Читать книгу Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3 - Маргарет Митчелл - Страница 12

January and February of 1864 passed, full of cold rains and wild winds. After hard fighting, nearly all of Tennessee was now held by the Union troops.

Scarlett was happy those two months. Ashley loved her. She was sure of that now, and this conviction was very pleasant.

«When the war is over!» she thought. «When it’s over, then…»

When the war is over, everything will be settled, somehow. If Ashley loves her, he simply will not be able to live with Melanie.

But then, a divorce was impossible. And Ellen and Gerald, staunch Catholics, will never permit her to marry a divorced man. It will mean leaving the Church! In a choice between the Church and Ashley, Scarlett will choose Ashley.

Everything will be all right when the war is over. If Ashley loves her, he’ll find a way. In March the hideous blow fell. Melanie told her she was going to have a baby. She must go home to Tara, home, where she belonged. But, as they sat at the table in the morning, a telegram came.

It was to Melanie from Ashley’s servant, Mose.

«Regret to inform you Major Wilkes missing since scouting expedition[16] three days ago. Colonel Sloan».

Her door opened and Melanie entered.

«Scarlett», she said. «I know my darling is dead!»

They fell on the bed. Ashley is dead!

«At least», Melanie whispered, «I’ve got his baby».

«And I», thought Scarlett, «I’ve got nothing… except the look on his face when he told me good-bye».

One afternoon, Melanie came home from town and Rhett Butler. She had fainted at the telegraph office and Rhett had escorted her home. He carried her up the stairs to her bedroom.

«Mrs. Wilkes», he questioned abruptly, «you are going to have a baby, are you not?»

She nodded.

«Then you must take better care of yourself. If you permit me, Mrs. Wilkes, I will use my influence in Washington to learn about Mr. Wilkes’ fate. If he is a prisoner, he will be on the Federal lists».

«Oh, you are so kind», cried Melanie. «How can people say such dreadful things about you?»

It was a month before he had news. Ashley was not dead! He had been wounded and taken prisoner. He was at Rock Island, a prison camp in Illinois.

Oh, Ashley was in that horrible place! Ashley was alive but he was wounded and at Rock Island.

«Oh, Captain Butler, isn’t there some way… Can’t you use your influence…» cried Melanie.

«I hadn’t told you before, Mrs. Wilkes, but your husband had a chance to get out and refused it».

«Oh, no!» cried Melanie in disbelief.

«Yes, indeed. The Yankees are recruiting men for frontier service to fight the Indians, recruiting them from among Confederate prisoners. Any prisoner who will take the oath of allegiance and enlist for Indian service for two years will be released and sent West. Mr. Wilkes refused».

«Oh, how could he?» cried Scarlett. «Why didn’t he take the oath and then desert and come home?»

«How can you even suggest that?” said Melanie. “Betray his own Confederacy and then betray the Yankees! I’ll be proud of him if he dies in prison. Of course, he refused».

Later Scarlett asked Rhett:

«And you, for example, won’t you enlist with the Yankees and then desert?»

«Of course», said Rhett.

«Then why didn’t Ashley do it?»

«He’s a gentleman», said Rhett.