秋日的天空
Scarlett's face did not change but her lips went white—like a person who has received a stunning blow without warning and who,in the first moments of shock,does not realize what has happened.So still was her face as she stared at Stuart that he,never analytic,took it for granted that she was merely surprised and very interested.
“Miss Pitty told us they hadn't intended announcing it till next year,because Miss Melly hasn't been very well;but with all the war talk going around,everybody in both families thought it would be better to get married real soon.So it's tobe announced tomorrow night at the supper intermission.
Now,Scarlett,we've told you the secret,so you've got to promise to eat supper with us.”
“Of course I will,”Scarlett said automatically.
“And all the waltzes?”
“All.”
“You're sweet!I'll bet the other boys will be hopping mad.” “Let'em be mad,”said Brent.“We two can handle'em. Look, Scarlett.Sit with us at the barbecue in the morning.”
“What?”
Stuart repeated his request.
“Of course.”
The twins looked at each other jubilantly but with some surprise.Although they considered themselves Scarlett's favored suitors,they had never before gained tokens of this favor so easily.Usually she made them beg and plead,while she put them off,refusing to give a Yes or No answer,laughing if they sulked,growing cool if they became angry.And here she had practically promised them the whole of tomorrow—seats byher at the barbecue,all the waltzes (and they'd see to it that the dances were all waltzes!)and the supper intermission.This was worth getting expelled from the university.
Filled with new enthusiasm by their success,they lingered on, talking about the barbecue and the ball and Ashley Wilkes and Melanie Hamilton,interrupting each other,making jokes and laughing at them,hinting broadly for invitations to supper.Some time had passed before they realized that Scarlett was having very little to say.The atmosphere had somehow changed.Just how,the twins did not know,but the fine glow had gone out of the afternoon.Scarlett seemed to be paying little attention to what they said, although she made the correct answers.Sensing something they could not understand, baffled and annoyed by it,the twins struggled along for a while,and then rose reluctantly,looking at their watches.
The sun was low across the new-plowed fields and the tall woods across the river were looming blackly in silhouette. Chimney swallows were darting swiftly across the yard, and chickens,ducks and turkeys were waddling and strutting and straggling in from the fields.
Stuart bellowed:“Jeems!”And after an interval a tall black boy of their own age ran breathlessly around the house andout toward the tethered horses.Jeems was their body servant and,like the dogs, accompanied them everywhere. He had been their childhood playmate and had been given to the twins for their own on their tenth birthday.At the sight of him,the Tarleton hounds rose up out of the red dust and stood waiting expectantly for their masters.The boys bowed,shook hands and told Scarlett they'd be over at the Wilkeses'earlyin the morning,waiting for her.Then they were off down the walk at a rush,mounted their horses and,followed by Jeems,went down the avenue of cedars at a gallop,waving their hats and yelling back to her.
虽然斯嘉丽的脸色没有变化，但是她的嘴唇发白——就像一个人刚刚毫无防备地听到一个令人震惊的消息，一时间还不知道发生了什么。她的脸依然镇定地面向司徒特，眼睛注视着他，而司徒特毫无觉察，觉得斯嘉丽不过是感到惊讶和感兴趣，这是再正常不过的事了。
“佩蒂小姐告诉我们他们原本打算到明年再宣布婚期，因为兰妮小姐的身体不大好，可到处都在传言要打仗，两家人都觉得趁早结婚比较好，所以才决定在明天晚宴上宣布。斯嘉丽，现在我们把秘密告诉你了，你可是答应了我们一起吃晚饭哦。”
“那是当然。”斯嘉丽不假思索的说。
“还答应陪我们跳所有的华尔兹？”
“所有的”
“你真好，我敢打赌，其他的小伙子会被气疯的。”
“干脆让他们气疯好了。”布伦特说，我们两个对付的了他们。听我说，斯嘉丽，明天早上吃饭你可要和我们坐一起啊。“
“什么？”
司徒特又说了一遍。
”没问题“。
兄弟俩你看看我，我看看你。高兴地心都要跳出来了。但他们心里还是不免有些诧异。虽然他们认为自己是斯嘉丽宠爱的追求者，但是他们从来没有这么轻而易举的获得她这样的许诺。她平时总是敷衍他们，不论他们怎样苦苦哀求，她也不肯说行，还是不行。要是他们恼了，她就笑。要是他们生气了，她就冷淡他们。但今天斯嘉丽竟然答应明天全天都和他们在一块——允许他们在她身边吃饭，和她跳所有的华尔兹（他们一定要想办法让明天的舞会全部都放华尔兹），还有共进晚餐。要是这样的话，就算被大学开除也值得了。
他们为他们的小成功洋洋得意起来，就又来了兴致，磨磨蹭蹭的不想走，不停地谈什么宴会啊、舞会啊、阿西里·维尔克斯和梅兰妮·汉密顿，还互相嘻嘻哈哈地开玩笑，还露骨地暗示斯嘉丽请他们吃晚饭。过了一会，他们突然发觉斯嘉丽几乎没说什么了。气氛也变了。兄弟俩搞不清楚是怎么回事，也就没了下午那股高兴劲。虽然斯嘉丽还回应兄弟俩的谈话，但跟他们说话已经心不在焉。兄弟俩觉察到不对劲，不免感到无趣，暗自恼怒，又磨蹭了一会，才看看表，很不情愿地站起身。
在新翻过的土地对面，太阳已经西斜。和对面高高的树林影影绰绰。燕子正敏捷地俯身冲向院子对面，家禽也陆陆续续从田野里回来，左顾右盼的是鸡，摇摇摆摆的是鸭，趾高气昂的是火鸡。
司徒特吆喝了一声：”吉姆士！“不一会儿，就见一个和他们年龄相仿的高个子黑奴上气不接下气地从屋子拐角处跑出，朝拴着的马跑去。吉姆士是这兄弟俩的贴身仆人，就像阿猫阿狗一样，随时随地的陪着他们。他是他们小时候的玩伴，在他们十岁生日的时候就送给他们使唤了。塔尔顿家的猎狗一见到，就从红土地上跳起来，站好了等候主人。兄弟俩跟斯嘉丽点点头，握握手，说明天一早就到维尔克斯家等她。说完就匆忙走下小径，骑上马，吉姆士跟在后面，顺着有两排雪松的林荫道一溜小跑而去，一面挥舞着帽子。一面朝她喊话。
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