Віднесені вітром

           Thewaytogetamaninterestedandtoholdhisinterestwastotalkabouthim,andthengraduallyleadtheconversationaroundtoyourself—andkeepitthere.ScarlettwouldhavefeltsomecauseforalarmifMelaniehadbeensaying:"Howwonderfulyouare!"or"Howdoyoueverthinkofsuchthings?MylittleolebrainwouldbustifIeventriedtothinkaboutthem!"Buthereshewas,withamanatherfeet,talkingasseriouslyasifshewereinchurch.TheprospectlookedbrightertoScarlett,sobrightinfactthatsheturnedbeamingeyesonCharlesandsmiledfrompurejoy.Enrapturedatthisevidenceofheraffection,hegrabbedupherfanandplieditsoenthusiasticallyherhairbegantoblowaboutuntidily.

           "Ashley,youhavenotfavoreduswithyouropinion,"saidJimTarleton,turningfromthegroupofshoutingmen,andwithanapologyAshleyexcusedhimselfandrose.Therewasnoonetheresohandsome,thoughtScarlett,asshemarkedhowgracefulwashisnegligentposeandhowthesungleamedonhisgoldhairandmustache.Eventheoldermenstoppedtolistentohiswords.

           "Why,gentlemen,ifGeorgiafights,I’llgowithher.WhyelsewouldIhavejoinedtheTroop?"hesaid.HisgrayeyesopenedwideandtheirdrowsinessdisappearedinanintensitythatScarletthadneverseenbefore."But,likeFather,IhopetheYankeeswillletusgoinpeaceandthattherewillbenofighting—"Hehelduphishandwithasmile,asababelofvoicesfromtheFontaineandTarletonboysbegan."Yes,yes,Iknowwe’vebeeninsultedandliedto—butifwe’dbeenintheYankees’shoesandtheyweretryingtoleavetheUnion,howwouldwehaveacted?Prettymuchthesame.Wewouldn’thavelikedit."

           "Therehegoesagain,"thoughtScarlett."Alwaysputtinghimselfintheotherfellow’sshoes."Toher,therewasneverbutonefairsidetoanargument.Sometimes,therewasnounderstandingAshley.