登陆注册
5410300000007

第7章

She would have turned and left him then,seeking the shelter of the house to hide herself,but she was too tired to move.Even speech was a labor and a weariness.

“There is nothing left,”she said at last.“Nothing left for me.Nothing to love.Nothing to fight for.You are gone and Tara is going.”

He looked at her for a long space and then,leaning,scooped up a small wad of red clay from the ground.

“Yes,there is something left,”he said,and the ghost of his old smile came back,the smile which mocked himself as well as her.“Something you love better than me,though you may not know it.You've still got Tara.”

He took her limp hand and pressed the damp clay into it and closed her fingers about it.There was no fever in his hands now,nor in hers.She looked at the red soil for a moment and it meant nothing to her.She looked at him and realized dimly that there was an integrity of spirit in him which was not to be torn apart by her passionate hands,nor by any hands.

If it killed him,he would never leave Melanie.If he burned for Scarlett until the end of his days,he would never take her and he would fight to keep her at a distance.She would never again get through that armor.The words,hospitality and loyalty and honor,meant more to him than she did.

The clay was cold in her hand and she looked at it again.

“Yes,”she said,“I've still got this.”

At first,the words meant nothing and the clay was only red clay.But unbidden came the thought of the sea of red dirt which surrounded Tara and how very dear it was and how hard she had fought to keep it—how hard she was going to have to fight if she wished to keep it hereafter.She looked at him again and wondered where the hot flood of feeling had gone.She could think but could not feel,not about him nor Tara either,for she was drained of all emotion.

“You need not go,”she said clearly.“I won't have you all starve,simply because I've thrown myself at your head.It will never happen again.”

She turned away and started back toward the house across the rough fields,twisting her hair into a knot upon her neck.Ashley watched her go and saw her square her small thin shoulders as she went.And that gesture went to his heart,more than any words she had spoken.

Chapter 32

She was still clutching the ball of red clay when she went up the front steps.She had carefully avoided the back entrance,for Mammy's sharp eyes would certainly have seen that something was greatly amiss.Scarlett did not want to see Mammy or anyone else.She did not feel that she could endure disappointment or bitterness now,only a weakness of the knees and a great emptiness of heart.She squeezed the clay so tightly it ran out from her clenched fist and she said over and over,parrot-like:“I've still got this.Yes,I've still got this.”

There was nothing else she did have,nothing but this red land,this land she had been willing to throw away like a torn handkerchief only a few minutes before.Now,it was dear to her again and she wondered dully what madness had possessed her to hold it so lightly.Had Ashley yielded,she could have gone away with him and left family and friends without a backward look but,even in her emptiness,she knew it would have torn her heart to leave these dear red hills and long washed gullies and gaunt black pines.Her thoughts would have turned back to them hungrily until the day she died.Not even Ashley could have filled the empty spaces in her heart where Tara had been uprooted.How wise Ashley was and how well he knew her!He had only to press the damp earth into her hand to bring her to her senses.

She was in the hall preparing to close the door when she heard the sound of horse's hooves and turned to look down the driveway.To have visitors at this of all times was too much.She'd hurry to her room and plead a headache.

But when the carriage came nearer,her flight was checked by her amazement.It was a new carriage,shiny with varnish,and the harness was new too,with bits of polished brass here and there.Strangers,certainly.No one she knew had the money for such a grand new turn-out as this.

She stood in the doorway watching,the cold draft blowing her skirts about her damp ankles.Then the carriage stopped in front of the house and Jonas Wilkerson alighted.Scarlett was so surprised at the sight of their former overseer driving so fine a rig and in so splendid a greatcoat she could not for a moment believe her eyes.Will had told her he looked quite prosperous since he got his new job with the Freedmen's Bureau.Made a lot of money,Will said,swindling the niggers or the government,one or tuther,or confiscating folks'cotton and swearing it was Confederate government cotton.Certainly he never came by all that money honestly in these hard times.

And here he was now,stepping out of an elegant carriage and handing down a woman dressed within an inch of her life.Scarlett saw in a glance that the dress was bright in color to the point of vulgarity but nevertheless her eyes went over the outfit hungrily.It had been so long since she had even seen stylish new clothes.Well!So hoops aren't so wide this year,she thought,scanning the red plaid gown.And,as she took in the black velvet paletot,how short jackets are!And what a cunning hat!Bonnets must be out of style,for this hat was only an absurd flat red velvet affair,perched on the top of the woman's head like a stiffened pancake.The ribbons did not tie under the chin as bonnet ribbons tied but in the back under the massive bunch of curls which fell from the rear of the hat,curls which Scarlett could not help noticing did not match the woman's hair in either color or texture.

As the woman stepped to the ground and looked toward the house,Scarlett saw there was something familiar about the rabbity face,caked with white powder.

“Why,it's Emmie Slattery!”she cried,so surprised she spoke the words aloud.

“Yes'm,it's me,”said Emmie,tossing her head with an ingratiating smile and starting toward the steps.

同类推荐
  • Fox Grin 狐狸的微笑

    Fox Grin 狐狸的微笑

    当我们钦羡大自然中的美丽生灵时,是否想到,它们赖以生存的自然环境正在遭受无尽的侵扰。大森林中的野生动物正在加速消亡中,让我们伸出爱的手臂请它们停一停……胡冬林深入长白山原始森林二十年,为森林里的美丽生灵深情画像,青羊、熊、紫貂、狐狸、青鼬、星鸦……为我们揭开神秘大森林的一角,挽留即将消逝的它们。
  • 马克·吐温短篇小说选集(纯爱·英文馆)

    马克·吐温短篇小说选集(纯爱·英文馆)

    《马克·吐温短篇小说精选》中收录的作品,以幽默的语言,表达了对人民、尤其是对被压迫被剥削人民的热爱和对伪善者、剥削者、压迫者的愤恨。
  • Seven Lost Letters 寻找巴金的黛莉

    Seven Lost Letters 寻找巴金的黛莉

    《寻找巴金的黛莉》以寻找巴金的七封信为源,牵出一位现代女性传奇而坎坷的命运。作者精湛的语言文字能力和结构能力,标志着中国非虚构文学创作的文本价值,更体现了作家忠诚于土地的精神。
  • 英语前缀词根后缀袋着走:英语单词这样背才对!

    英语前缀词根后缀袋着走:英语单词这样背才对!

    本书按照词首、词根、词尾的方法来教读者记忆单词,配合例句,迅速准确地掌握单词的用法。小开本的设计,方便读者携带,装到口袋里随时随地背单词。本书提供了标准的国际音标帮助你更好地将英语说出来。同时,大量实用的例句也可以让你将单词理解得更为透彻,从而掌握地道的表达方法。
  • 商务英语实用大全

    商务英语实用大全

    《商务英语实用大全》专为正要踏入职场和努力在职场打拼的读者设计,从商务口语篇和商务写作篇两大方面入手,既能够帮助读者提升口语方面的交际能力,又能增加书面的业务知识。
热门推荐
  • 赠米都知

    赠米都知

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Standard Household-Effect Company

    The Standard Household-Effect Company

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 那年旧梦雪落留痕

    那年旧梦雪落留痕

    简介:一段或远或近的故事,也许还不曾去走远……在这里借用友人的一处签名,不觉任思绪,却引出一段故事:若我们多年未见,时隔经秋,相遇该如何问候,以眼泪?以沉默?那年旧梦,雪落留痕。又会在彼此的记忆里,留下怎样的一笔?沧桑一瞥,夏承冬至,不觉已是一场夜幕。漫长这一世,却又匆匆于一时。冯与雪的难舍之恋,又会得到怎样的祝福与结局?回首忆曾萧瑟处,好在你我那回忆,在雪舞飘飞之时,得到了彼此间的答案……
  • 鲜妻十八岁

    鲜妻十八岁

    刚开始她只知道他叫裴毅,三十岁,仪表堂堂,是奶奶故交的长孙。后来她才知道裴家是顶级豪门,才知道他靠自己的能力成为全球十大最年轻的亿万富豪之一,才知道因为他一手创立的公司他被认定是世界范围内最有权势的商人。越了解裴毅,施楚越觉得他不可能喜欢她。他们完全是两个世界的人,差距不止十万八千里。【架空,男女主身心干净,结局一对一】
  • 猎魔英雄

    猎魔英雄

    这是一个老套的故事,这是一个不像网游的网游,这是人类游戏文明的颠峰之作,一个极度真实的魔幻世界。风云乱世,且看玩家们如何缔造属于自己的传奇。
  • 鲑去来:我的美国留学往事

    鲑去来:我的美国留学往事

    “鲑去来”的涵义:利用鲑鱼的溯河洄游习性的象征意义,突显作者赴美留学的奋斗意志和在美国学成归来报效祖国的决心。本书以自传体的形式,回顾2003—2012年作者在出国考试、工作经验准备阶段以及出国后在美国伊利诺伊、夏威夷、纽约、洛杉矶、加利福尼亚等地留学、生活、工作(半工半读)经历,以一连串跌宕起伏、生动有趣的真实故事介绍了21 世纪初的美国留学生活。本书呈现了留学生活中的艰辛和奋斗历史,处处洋溢着乐观向上的正能量,堪称“70后”一代留学者的历史剪影。这不是一本充满自恋的回忆录,也不是一部杜撰的猎奇小说,而是观察纪实、理性思考的文化结晶,体现了作者在探究教育本质方面的努力。
  • 快穿之我有个伪系统

    快穿之我有个伪系统

    墨疏狂,一介魂界游魂,忍受痛苦千年,在意识消沉前得到重生的机会,与一只伪系统一起穿越三千世界,收集三魂七魄,找回失去的他。
  • 致竞荣耀

    致竞荣耀

    【2018王者荣耀文学大赛·征文参赛作品】王者荣耀职业选手,KPL顶尖ADC——顾竞,因队内体系变革被俱乐部挂牌出售,被迫离开联盟来到次级联赛,重走职业之路。
  • 女巡按之女中豪杰

    女巡按之女中豪杰

    包秀秀等一行人一路之上,虽然包秀秀女扮男装,假扮巡按,为民请命。替皇上代天寻授,为了丈夫八府巡按文必正的冤死而复仇。阴差阳错的被皇上真的封了包秀秀为八府巡按。管尽天下不平事。二夫人孟如忆熟背三从四德,扶左包秀秀和文必正的独子文小宝长大成人。孟如忆的好姐妹风尘出身的风四娘也获罪了。皇上下令师爷刘非,三年之内必须考取状元。为国效力。众人谢恩。一路之上的坎坷与磨难,使他们建立了深厚的感情。阴差阳错,刘非遇上青梅竹马的初恋情人。两人居然喜结良缘!秀秀该如何决择?
  • 青花漫羽

    青花漫羽

    清纯淡定的女大学生在无意中启动了异世界的禁咒,穿越到了魔音师叶婉清的身上。然后命运开始了新的转折。莫名其妙的被那个帅到无敌的人抓了以后,还要被他严厉的审讯。明明自己是遵纪守法的良民,根本不可能触犯什么王法,却被他说得比真的还真,还人证物证俱在。喂喂,抓错人啦好吧!可是他这次偏偏要吃定了她,还冷冰冰的要培养她成为大内第一刺客。可恨的男人!她发誓要在成为刺客以后彻底离开他。他却违背了自己的诺言,让她心冷。她只有辗转于另外的希望,直到走向自己最巅峰的位置。生命的沉浮,不过如此!何况转瞬即逝的爱情?