Віднесені вітром

           Thethousandsofimmigrantswho’dbegladtofightfortheYankeesforfoodandafewdollars,thefactories,thefoundries,theshipyards,theironandcoalmines—allthethingswehaven’tgot.Why,allwehaveiscottonandslavesandarrogance.They’dlickusinamonth."

           Foratensemoment,therewassilence.RhettButlerremovedafinelinenhandkerchieffromhiscoatpocketandidlyflickeddustfromhissleeve.Thenanominousmurmuringaroseinthecrowdandfromunderthearborcameahummingasunmistakableasthatofahiveofnewlydisturbedbees.Evenwhileshefeltthehotbloodofwrathstillinhercheeks,somethinginScarlett’spracticalmindpromptedthethoughtthatwhatthismansaidwasright,anditsoundedlikecommonsense.Why,she’dneverevenseenafactory,orknownanyonewhohadseenafactory.But,evenifitweretrue,hewasnogentlemantomakesuchastatement—andataparty,too,whereeveryonewashavingagoodtime.

           StuartTarleton,browslowering,cameforwardwithBrentcloseathisheels.Ofcourse,theTarletontwinshadnicemannersandtheywouldn’tmakeasceneatabarbecue,eventhoughtremendouslyprovoked.Justthesame,alltheladiesfeltpleasantlyexcited,foritwassoseldomthattheyactuallysawasceneoraquarrel.Usuallytheyhadtohearofitthird-hand.

           "Sir,"saidStuartheavily,"whatdoyoumean?"

           Rhettlookedathimwithpolitebutmockingeyes.

           "Imean,"heanswered,"whatNapoleon—perhapsyou’veheardofhim?—remarkedonce,‘Godisonthesideofthestrongestbattalion!’"and,turningtoJohnWilkes,hesaidwithcourtesythatwasunfeigned:"Youpromisedtoshowmeyourlibrary,sir.Woulditbetoogreatafavortoasktoseeitnow?IfearImustgobacktoJonesboroearlythisafternoonwhereabitofbusinesscallsme."