Віднесені вітром

           Itwassuchaquiet,old-fashioned,gentlehomecomparedwithTara.ToScarlett,thishousecriedoutforthemasculinesmellsofbrandy,tobaccoandMacassaroil,forhoarsevoicesandoccasionalcurses,forguns,forwhiskers,forsaddlesandbridlesandforhoundsunderfoot.ShemissedthesoundsofquarrelingvoicesthatwerealwaysheardatTarawhenEllen’sbackwasturned,MammyquarrelingwithPork,RosaandTeenabickering,herownacrimoniousargumentswithSuellen,Gerald’sbawlingthreats.NowonderCharleshadbeenasissy,comingfromahomelikethis.Here,excitementneverenteredin,voiceswereneverraised,everyonedeferredgentlytotheopinionsofothers,and,intheend,theblackgrizzledautocratinthekitchenhadhisway.Scarlett,whohadhopedforafreerreinwhensheescapedMammy’ssupervision,discoveredtohersorrowthatUnclePeter’sstandardsofladylikeconduct,especiallyforMist’Charles’widow,wereevenstricterthanMammy’s.

           Insuchahousehold,Scarlettcamebacktoherself,andalmostbeforesherealizeditherspiritsrosetonormal.Shewasonlyseventeen,shehadsuperbhealthandenergy,andCharles’peopledidtheirbesttomakeherhappy.Iftheyfellalittleshortofthis,itwasnottheirfault,fornoonecouldtakeoutofherhearttheachethatthrobbedwheneverAshley’snamewasmentioned.AndMelaniementioneditsooften!ButMelanieandPittyweretirelessinplanningwaystosoothethesorrowunderwhichtheythoughtshelabored.Theyputtheirowngriefintothebackgroundinordertodiverther.Theyfussedaboutherfoodandherhoursfortakingafternoonnapsandfortakingcarriagerides.Theynotonlyadmiredherextravagantly,herhigh-spiritedness,herfigure,hertinyhandsandfeet,herwhiteskin,buttheysaidsofrequently,petting,huggingandkissinghertoemphasizetheirlovingwords.