Віднесені вітром

Chapter 25

           Itwouldbesogoodtosithereallday,awayfromthehelplesseyesofTara,herewhereonlytherustleofleavesandthegurgleofslowwaterbrokethestillness.Butreluctantlyshereplacedhershoesandstockingsandtrudgeddownthebank,spongywithmoss,undertheshadytrees.TheYankeeshadburnedthebridgebutsheknewofafootlogbridgeacrossanarrowpointofthestreamahundredyardsbelow.Shecrosseditcautiouslyandtrudgeduphillthehothalf-miletoTwelveOaks.

           Theretoweredthetwelveoaks,astheyhadstoodsinceIndiandays,butwiththeirleavesbrownfromfireandthebranchesburnedandscorched.WithintheircirclelaytheruinsofJohnWilkes’house,thecharredremainsofthatoncestatelyhomewhichhadcrownedthehillinwhite-columneddignity.Thedeeppitwhichhadbeenthecellar,theblackenedfield-stonefoundationsandtwomightychimneysmarkedthesite.Onelongcolumn,half-burned,hadfallenacrossthelawn,crushingthecapejessaminebushes.

           Scarlettsatdownonthecolumn,toosickatthesighttogoon.Thisdesolationwenttoherheartasnothingshehadeverexperienced.HerewastheWilkesprideinthedustatherfeet.Herewastheendofthekindly,courteoushousewhichhadalwayswelcomedher,thehousewhereinfutiledreamsshehadaspiredtobemistress.Hereshehaddancedanddinedandflirtedandhereshehadwatchedwithajealous,hurtinghearthowMelaniesmiledupatAshley.Here,too,inthecoolshadowsofthetrees,CharlesHamiltonhadrapturouslypressedherhandwhenshesaidshewouldmarryhim.

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