Віднесені вітром

           Thenthefiddles,bullfiddles,accordions,banjosandknuckle-bonesbrokeintoaslowrenditionof"Lorena"—tooslowfordancing,thedancingwouldcomelaterwhentheboothswereemptiedoftheirwares.Scarlettfeltherheartbeatfasterasthesweetmelancholyofthewaltzcametoher:

           "Theyearscreepslowlyby,Lorena!Thesnowisonthegrassagain.Thesun’sfardownthesky,Lorena..."

           One-two-three,one-two-three,dip-sway—three,turn—two-three.Whatabeautifulwaltz!Sheextendedherhandsslightly,closedhereyesandswayedwiththesadhauntingrhythm.TherewassomethingaboutthetragicmelodyandLorena’slostlovethatmingledwithherownexcitementandbroughtalumpintoherthroat.

           Then,asifbroughtintobeingbythewaltzmusic,soundsfloatedinfromtheshadowymoonlitstreetbelow,thetrampleofhorses’hoovesandthesoundofcarriagewheels,laughteronthewarmsweetairandthesoftacrimonyofnegrovoicesraisedinargumentoverhitchingplacesforthehorses.Therewasconfusiononthestairsandlight-heartedmerriment,theminglingofgirls’freshvoiceswiththebassnotesoftheirescorts,airycriesofgreetingandsquealsofjoyasgirlsrecognizedfriendsfromwhomtheyhadpartedonlythatafternoon.

           Suddenlythehallburstintolife.Itwasfullofgirls,girlswhofloatedinbutterflybrightdresses,hoopedoutenormously,lacepantaletspeepingfrombeneath;roundlittlewhiteshouldersbare,andfaintesttracesofsoftlittlebosomsshowingabovelaceflounces;laceshawlscarelesslyhangingfromarms;fansspangledandpainted,fansofswan’s-downandpeacockfeathers,danglingatwristsbytinyvelvetribbons;girlswithmassesofgoldencurlsabouttheirnecksandfringedgoldearbobsthattossedanddancedwiththeirdancingcurls.