小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 双语小说 » 飘 Gone With The Wind » Chapter 19
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
Chapter 19
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。

IN THOSE FIRST DAYS of the siege, when the Yankees crashed here and there against thedefenses of the city, Scarlett was so frightened by the bursting shells she could only cowerhelplessly, her hands over her ears, expecting every moment to be blown into eternity2. When sheheard the whistling screams that heralded3 their approach, she rushed to Melanie’s room and flungherself on the bed beside her, and the two clutched each other, screaming “Oh! Oh!” as they buriedtheir heads in the pillows. Prissy and Wade4 scurried5 for the cellar and crouched6 in the cob-webbeddarkness, Prissy squalling at the top of her voice and Wade sobbing7 and hiccoughing.

  Suffocating under feather pillows while death screamed overhead, Scarlett silently cursedMelanie for keeping her from the safer regions below stairs. But the doctor had forbidden Melanieto walk and Scarlett had to stay with her. Added to her terror of being blown to pieces was herequally active terror that Melanie’s baby might arrive at any moment. Sweat broke out on Scarlettwith clammy dampness, whenever this thought entered her mind. What would she do if the babystarted coming? She knew she’d rather let Melanie die than go out on the streets to hunt for thedoctor when the shells were falling like April rain. And she knew Prissy could be beaten to deathbefore she would venture forth9. What would she do if the baby came?

  These matters she discussed with Prissy in whispers one evening, as they prepared Melanie’ssupper tray, and Prissy, surprisingly enough, calmed her fears.

  “Miss Scarlett, effen we kain git de doctah w’en Miss Melly’s time come, doan you bodder. Ahkin manage. Ah knows all ‘bout birthin’. Ain’ mah ma a midwife? Ain’ she raise me ter be amidwife, too? Jes’ you leave it ter me.”

  Scarlett breathed more easily knowing that experienced hands were near, but she nevertheless yearned11 to have the ordeal12 over and done with. Mad to be away from exploding shells, desperate toget home to the quiet of Tara, she prayed every night that the baby would arrive the next day, soshe would be released from her promise and could leave Atlanta. Tara seemed so safe, so far awayfrom all this misery13.

  Scarlett longed for home and her mother as she had never longed for anything in all her life. Ifshe were just near Ellen she wouldn’t be afraid, no matter what happened. Every night after a dayof screeching14 ear-splitting shells, she went to bed determined15 to tell Melanie the next morning thatshe could not stand Atlanta another day, that she would have to go home and Melanie would haveto go to Mrs. Meade’s. But, as she lay on her pillow, there always rose the memory of Ashley’sface as it had looked when she last saw him, drawn16 as with an inner pain but with a little smile onhis lips: “You’ll take care of Melanie, won’t you? You’re so strong. … Promise me.” And she hadpromised. Somewhere, Ashley lay dead. Wherever he was, he was watching her, holding her tothat promise. Living or dead, she could not fail him, no matter what the cost. So she remained dayafter day.

  In response to Ellen’s letters, pleading with her to come home, she wrote minimizing thedangers of the siege, explaining Melanie’s predicament and promising17 to come as soon as the babywas born. Ellen, sensitive to the bonds of kin10, be they blood or marriage, wrote back reluctantlyagreeing that she must stay but demanding Wade and Prissy be sent home immediately. Thissuggestion met with the complete approval of Prissy, who was now reduced to teeth-chatteringidiocy at every unexpected sound. She spent so much time crouching19 in the cellar that the girlswould have fared badly but for Mrs. Meade’s stolid20 old Betsy.

  Scarlett was as anxious as her mother to have Wade out of Atlanta, not only for the child’ssafety, but because his constant fear irritated her. Wade was terrified to speechlessness by theshelling, and even when lulls22 came he clung to Scarlett’s skirts, too terrified to cry. He was afraidto go to bed at night, afraid of the dark, afraid to sleep lest the Yankees should come and get him,and the sound of his soft nervous whimpering in the night grated unendurably on her nerves.

  Secretly she was just as frightened as he was, but it angered her to be reminded of it every minuteby his tense, drawn face. Yes, Tara was the place for Wade. Prissy should take him there and returnimmediately to be present when the baby came.

  But before Scarlett could start the two on their homeward journey, news came that the Yankeeshad swung to the south and were skirmishing along the railroad between Atlanta and Jonesboro.

  Suppose the Yankees should capture the train on which Wade and Prissy were riding—Scarlett andMelanie turned pale at the thought, for everyone knew that Yankee atrocities23 on helpless childrenwere even more dreadful than on women. So she feared to send him home and he remained inAtlanta, a frightened, silent little ghost, pattering about desperately24 after his mother, fearing tohave her skirt out of his hand for even a minute.

  The siege went on through the hot days of July, thundering days following nights of sullen,ominous stillness, and the town began to adjust itself. It was as though, the worst having happened,they had nothing more to fear. They had feared a siege and now they had a siege and, after all, itwasn’t so bad. Life could and did go on almost as usual. They knew they were sitting on a volcano,but until that volcano erupted there was nothing they could do. So why worry now? And probablyit wouldn’t erupt anyway. Just look how General Hood25 is holding the Yankees out of the city! And see how the cavalry26 is holding the railroad to Macon! Sherman will never take it!

  But for all their apparent insouciance27 in the face of falling shells and shorter rations28, for all theirignoring the Yankees, barely half a mile away, and for all their boundless29 confidence in the raggedline of gray men in the rifle pits, there pulsed, just below the skin of Atlanta, a wild uncertaintyover what the next day would bring. Suspense30, worry, sorrow, hunger and the torment31 of rising,falling, rising hope was wearing that skin thin.

  Gradually, Scarlett drew courage from the brave faces of her friends and from the mercifuladjustment which nature makes when what cannot be cured must be endured. To be sure, she stilljumped at the sound of explosions but she did not run screaming to burrow32 her head underMelanie’s pillow. She could now gulp33 and say weakly: “That was close, wasn’t it?”

  She was less frightened also because life had taken on the quality of a dream, a dream tooterrible to be real. It wasn’t possible that she, Scarlett O’Hara, should be in such a predicament,with the danger of death about her every hour, every minute. It wasn’t possible that the quiet tenorof life could have changed so completely in so short a time.

  It was unreal, grotesquely34 unreal, that morning skies which dawned so tenderly blue could beprofaned with cannon35 smoke that hung over the town like low thunder clouds, that warm noontidesfilled with the piercing sweetness of massed honeysuckle and climbing roses could be so fearful,as shells screamed into the streets, bursting like the crack of doom36, throwing iron splintershundreds of yards, blowing people and animals to bits.

  Quiet, drowsy37 afternoon siestas38 had ceased to be, for though the clamor of battle might lull21 fromtime to time, Peachtree Street was alive, and noisy at all hours, cannon and ambulances rumblingby, wounded stumbling in from the rifle pits, regiments39 hurrying past at double-quick, orderedfrom the ditches on one side of town to the defense1 of some hard-pressed earthworks on the other,and couriers dashing headlong down the street toward headquarters as though the fate of theConfederacy hung on them.

  The hot nights brought a measure of quiet but it was a sinister40 quiet. When the night was still, itwas too still—as though the tree frogs, katydids and sleepy mockingbirds were too frightened toraise their voices in the usual summer-night chorus. Now and again, the quiet was broken sharplyby the crack-cracking of musket41 fire in the last line of defenses.

  Often in the late night hours, when the lamps were out and Melanie asleep and deathly silencepressed over the town, Scarlett, lying awake, heard the latch42 of the front gate click and soft urgenttappings on the front door.

  Always, faceless soldiers stood on the dark porch and from the darkness many different voicesspoke to her. Sometimes a cultured voice came from the shadows: “Madam, my abject44 apologiesfor disturbing you, but could I have water for myself and my horse?” Sometimes it was the hardburring of a mountain voice, sometimes the odd nasals of the flat Wiregrass country to the farsouth, occasionally the lulling45 drawl of the Coast that caught at her heart, reminding her of Ellen’svoice.

  “Missy, I got a pardner here who I wuz aimin’ ter git ter the horsepittle but looks like he ain’tgoin’ ter last that fer. Kin you take him in?”

  “Lady, I shore could do with some vittles. I’d shore relish46 a corn pone47 if it didn’t deprive younone.”

  “Madam, forgive my intrusion but—could I spend the night on your porch? I saw the roses andsmelled the honeysuckle and it was so much like home that I was emboldened—”

  No, these nights were not real! They were a nightmare and the men were part of that nightmare,men without bodies or faces, only tired voices speaking to her from the warm dark. Draw water,serve food, lay pillows on the front porch, bind49 wounds, hold the dirty heads of the dying. No, thiscould not be happening to her!

  Once, late in July, it was Uncle Henry Hamilton who came tapping in the night. Uncle Henrywas minus his umbrella and carpetbag now, and his fat stomach as well. The skin of his pink fatface hung down in loose folds like the dewlaps of a bulldog and his long white hair was indescribablydirty. He was almost barefoot, crawling with lice, and he was hungry, but his irasciblespirit was unimpaired.

  Despite his remark: “It’s a foolish war when old fools like me are out toting guns,” the girlsreceived the impression that Uncle Henry was enjoying himself. He was needed, like the youngmen, and he was doing a young man’s work. Moreover, he could keep up with the young men,which was more than Grandpa Merriwether could do, he told them gleefully. Grandpa’s lumbagowas troubling him greatly and the Captain wanted to discharge him. But Grandpa wouldn’t gohome. He said frankly50 that he preferred the Captain’s swearing and bullying51 to his daughter-inlaw’scoddling, and her incessant53 demands that he give up chewing tobacco and launder54 his beardevery day.

  Uncle Henry’s visit was brief, for he had only a four-hour furlough and he needed half of it forthe long walk in from the breastworks and back.

  “Girls, I’m not going to see you all for a while,” he announced as he sat in Melanie’s bedroom,luxuriously wriggling55 his blistered56 feet in the tub of cold water Scarlett had set before him. “Ourcompany is going out in the morning.”

  “Where?” questioned Melanie frightened, clutching his arm.

  “Don’t put your hand on me,” said Uncle Henry irritably57. “I’m crawling with lice. War would bea picnic if it wasn’t for lice and dysentery. Where’m I going? Well, I haven’t been told but I’ve gota good idea. We’re marching south, toward Jonesboro, in the morning, unless I’m greatly in error.”

  “Oh, why toward Jonesboro?”

  “Because there’s going to be big fighting there, Missy. The Yankees are going to take therailroad if they possibly can. And if they do take it, it’s good-by Atlanta!”

  “Oh, Uncle Henry, do you think they will?”

  “Shucks, girls! No! How can they when I’m there?” Uncle Henry grinned at their frightenedfaces and then, becoming serious again: “It’s going to be a hard fight, girls. We’ve got to win it.

  You know, of course, that the Yankees have got all the railroads except the one to Macon, but thatisn’t all they’ve got. Maybe you girls didn’t know it, but they’ve got every road, too, every wagonlane and bridle58 path, except the McDonough road, Atlanta’s in a bag and the strings59 of the bag are at Jonesboro. And if the Yankees can take the railroad there, they can pull up the strings and haveus, just like a possum in a poke43. So, we don’t aim to let them get that railroad. … I may be gone awhile, girls. I just came in to tell you all good-by and to make sure Scarlett was still with you,Melly.”

  “Of course, she’s with me,” said Melanie fondly. “Don’t you worry about us, Uncle Henry, anddo take care of yourself.”

  Uncle Henry wiped his wet feet on the rag rug and groaned60 as he drew on his tattered61 shoes.

  “I got to be going,” he said. “I’ve got five miles to walk. Scarlett, you fix me up some kind oflunch to take. Anything you’ve got.”

  After he had kissed Melanie good-by, he went down to the kitchen where Scarlett was wrappinga corn pone and some apples in a napkin.

  “Uncle Henry—is it—is it really so serious?”

  “Serious? God’lmighty, yes! Don’t be a goose. We’re in the last ditch.”

  “Do you think they’ll get to Tara?”

  “Why—” began Uncle Henry, irritated at the feminine mind which thought only of personalthings when broad issues were involved. Then, seeing her frightened, woebegone face, he softened62.

  “Of course they won’t. Tara’s five miles from the railroad and it’s the railroad the Yankees want.

  You’ve got no more sense than a June bug63, Missy.” He broke off abruptly64. “I didn’t walk all thisway here tonight just to tell you all good-by. I came to bring Melly some bad news, but when I gotup to it I just couldn’t tell her. So I’m going to leave it to you to do.”

  “Ashley isn’t—you haven’t heard anything—that he’s— dead?”

  “Now, how would I be hearing about Ashley when I’ve been standing65 in rifle pits up to the seatof my pants in mud?” the old gentleman asked testily66. “No. It’s about his father. John Wilkes isdead.”

  Scarlett sat down suddenly, the half-wrapped lunch in her hand.

  “I came to tell Melly—but I couldn’t. You must do it And give her these.”

  He hauled from his pockets a heavy gold watch with dangling67 seals, a small miniature of thelong dead Mrs. Wilkes and a pair of massive cuff68 buttons. At the sight of the watch which she hadseen in John Wilkes’ hands a thousand times, the full realization69 came over Scarlett that Ashley’sfather was really dead. And she was too stunned70 to cry or to speak. Uncle Henry fidgeted, coughedand did not look at her, lest he catch sight of a tear that would upset him.

  “He was a brave man, Scarlett. Tell Melly that. Tell her to write it to his girls. And a goodsoldier for all his years. A shell got him. Came right down on him and his horse. Tore the horse’s—I shot the horse myself, poor creature. A fine little mare48 she was. You’d better write Mrs. Tarletonabout that, too. She set a store on that mare. Wrap up my lunch, child. I must be going. There, dear,don’t take it so hard. What better way can an old man die than doing a young man’s work?”

  “Oh, he shouldn’t have died! He shouldn’t have ever gone to the war. He should have lived and seen his grandchild grow up and died peacefully in bed. Oh, why did he go? He didn’t believe insecession and he hated the war and—”

  “Plenty of us think that way, but what of it?” Uncle Henry blew his nose grumpily. “Do youthink I enjoy letting Yankee riflemen use me for a target at my age? But there’s no other choice fora gentleman these days. Kiss me good-by, child, and don’t worry about me. I’ll come through thiswar safely.”

  Scarlett kissed him and heard him go down the steps into the dark, heard the latch click on thefront gate. She stood for a minute looking at the keepsakes in her hand. And then she went up thestairs to tell Melanie.

  At the end of July came the unwelcome news, predicted by Uncle Henry, that the Yankees hadswung around again toward Jonesboro. They had cut the railroad four miles below the town, butthey had been beaten off by the Confederate cavalry; and the engineering corps71, sweating in thebroiling sun, had repaired the line.

  Scarlett was frantic72 with anxiety. For three days she waited, fear growing in her heart. Then areassuring letter came from Gerald. The enemy had not reached Tara. They had heard the sound ofthe fight but they had seen no Yankees.

  Gerald’s letter was so full of brag73 and bluster74 as to how the Yankees had been driven from therailroad that one would have thought he personally had accomplished75 the feat8, single handed. Hewrote for three pages about the gallantry of the troops and then, at the end of his letter, mentionedbriefly that Carreen was ill. The typhoid, Mrs. O’Hara said it was. She was not very ill and Scarlettwas not to worry about her, but on no condition must she come home now, even if the railroadshould become safe. Mrs. O’Hara was very glad now that Scarlett and Wade had not come homewhen the siege began. Mrs. O’Hara said Scarlett must go to church and say some Rosaries forCarreen’s recovery.

  Scarlett’s conscience smote76 her at this last, for it had been months since she had been to church.

  Once she would have thought this omission77 a mortal sin but, somehow, staying away from churchdid not seem so sinful now as it formerly78 had. But she obeyed her mother and going to her roomgabbled a hasty Rosary. When she rose from her knees she did not feel as comforted as she hadformerly felt after prayer. For some time she had felt that God was not watching out for her, theConfederates or the South, in spite of the millions of prayers ascending79 to Him daily.

  That night she sat on the front porch with Gerald’s letter in her bosom80 where she could touch itoccasionally and bring Tara and Ellen closer to her. The lamp in the parlor81 window threw oddgolden shadows onto the dark vine-shrouded porch, and the matted tangle82 of yellow climbing rosesand honeysuckle made a wall of mingled83 fragrance84 about her. The night was utterly85 still. Not eventhe crack of a rifle had sounded since sunset and the world seemed far away. Scarlett rocked backand forth, lonely, miserable86 since reading the news from Tara, wishing that someone, anyone, evenMrs. Merriwether, were with her. But Mrs. Merriwether was on night duty at the hospital, Mrs.

  Meade was at home making a feast for Phil, who was in from the front lines, and Melanie wasasleep. There was not even the hope of a chance caller. Visitors had fallen off to nothing this last week, for every man who could walk was in the rifle pits or chasing the Yankees about thecountryside near Jonesboro.

  It was not often that she was alone like this and she did not like it. When she was alone she hadto think and, these days, thoughts were not so pleasant. Like everyone else, she had fallen into thehabit of thinking of the past, the dead.

  Tonight when Atlanta was so quiet, she could close her eyes and imagine she was back in therural stillness of Tara and that life was unchanged, unchanging. But she knew that life in theCounty would never be the same again. She thought of the four Tarletons, the red-haired twins andTom and Boyd, and a passionate87 sadness caught at her throat. Why, either Stu or Brent might havebeen her husband. But now, when the war was over and she went back to Tara to live, she wouldnever again hear their wild halloos as they dashed up the avenue of cedars88. And Raiford Calvert,who danced so divinely, would never again choose her to be his partner. And the Munroe boys andlittle Joe Fontaine and—“Oh, Ashley!” she sobbed89, dropping her head into her hands. “I’ll never get used to you beinggone!”

  She heard the front gate click and she hastily raised her head and dashed her hand across her weteyes. She rose and saw it was Rhett Butler coming up the walk, carrying his wide Panama hat inhis hand. She had not seen him since the day when she had alighted from his carriage soprecipitously at Five Points. On that occasion, she had expressed the desire never to lay eyes onhim again. But she was so glad now to have someone to talk to, someone to divert her thoughtsfrom Ashley, that she hastily put the memory from her mind. Evidently he had forgotten thecontretemps, or pretended to have forgotten it, for he settled himself on the top step at her feetwithout mention of their late difference.

  “So you didn’t refugee to Macon! I heard that Miss Pitty had retreated and, of course, I thoughtyou had gone too. So, when I saw your light I came here to investigate. Why did you stay?”

  “To keep Melanie company. You see, she—well, she can’t refugee just now.”

  “Thunderation,” he said, and in the lamplight she saw that he was frowning. “You don’t mean totell me Mrs. Wilkes is still here? I never heard of such idiocy18. It’s quite dangerous for her in hercondition.”

  Scarlett was silent, embarrassed, for Melanie’s condition was not a subject she could discusswith a man. She was embarrassed, too, that Rhett should know it was dangerous for Melanie. Suchknowledge sat ill upon a bachelor.

  “It’s quite ungallant of you not to think that I might get hurt too,” she said tartly90.

  His eyes flickered91 with amusement.

  “I’d back you against the Yankees any day.”

  “I’m not sure that that’s a compliment,” she said uncertainly.

  “It isn’t,” he answered. “When will you stop looking for compliments in men’s lightestutterances?”

  “When I’m on my deathbed,” she replied and smiled, thinking that there would always be mento compliment her, even if Rhett never did.

  “Vanity, vanity,” he said. “At least, you are frank about it.”

  He opened his cigar case, extracted a black cigar and held it to his nose for a moment. A matchflared, he leaned back against a post and, clasping his hands about his knees, smoked a while insilence. Scarlett resumed her rocking and the still darkness of the warm night closed about them.

  The mockingbird, which nested in the tangle of roses and honeysuckle, roused from slumber92 andgave one timid, liquid note. Then, as if thinking better of the matter, it was silent again.

  From the shadow of the porch, Rhett suddenly laughed, a low, soft laugh.

  “So you stayed with Mrs. Wilkes! This is the strangest situation I ever encountered!”

  “I see nothing strange about it,” she answered uncomfortably, immediately on the alert.

  “No? But then you lack the impersonal93 viewpoint My impression has been for some time pastthat you could hardly endure Mrs. Wilkes. You think her silly and stupid and her patriotic94 notionsbore you. You seldom pass by the opportunity to slip in some belittling95 remark about her, sonaturally it seems strange to me that you should elect to do the unselfish thing and stay here withher during this shelling. Now, just why did you do it?”

  “Because she’s Charlie’s sister—and like a sister to me,” answered Scarlett with as much dignityas possible though her cheeks were growing hot.

  “You mean because she’s Ashley’s Wilkes’ widow.”

  Scarlett rose quickly, struggling with her anger.

  “I was almost on the point of forgiving you for your former boorish96 conduct but now I shan’t doit. I wouldn’t have ever let you come upon this porch at all, if I hadn’t been feeling so blue and—”

  “Sit down and smooth your ruffled97 fur,” he said, and his voice changed. He reached up andtaking her hand pulled her back into her chair. “Why are you blue?”

  “Oh, I had a letter from Tara today. The Yankees are close to home and my little sister is ill withtyphoid and—and—so now, even if I could go home, like I want to, Mother wouldn’t let me forfear I’d catch it too. Oh, dear, and I do so want to go home!”

  “Well, don’t cry about it,” he said, but his voice was kinder. “You are much safer here in Atlantaeven if the Yankees do come than you’d be at Tara. The Yankees won’t hurt you and typhoidwould.”

  “The Yankees wouldn’t hurt me! How can you say such a lie?”

  “My dear girl, the Yankees aren’t fiends. They haven’t horns and hoofs98, as you seem to think.

  They are pretty much like Southerners—except with worse manners, of course, and terribleaccents.”

  “Why, the Yankees would—”

  “Rape you? I think not. Though, of course, they’d want to.”

  “If you are going to talk vilely99 I shall go into the house,” she cried, grateful that the shadows hid her crimson100 face.

  “Be frank. Wasn’t that what you were thinking?”

  “Oh, certainly not!”

  “Oh, but it was! No use getting mad at me for reading your thoughts. That’s what all ourdelicately nurtured101 and pure-minded Southern ladies think. They have it on their minds constantly.

  I’ll wager102 even dowagers like Mrs. Merriwether ...”

  Scarlett gulped103 in silence, remembering that wherever two or more matrons were gatheredtogether, in these trying days, they whispered of such happenings, always in Virginia or Tennesseeor Louisiana, never close to home. The Yankees raped104 women and ran bayonets through children’sstomachs and burned houses over the heads of old people. Everyone knew these things were trueeven if they didn’t shout them on the street corners. And if Rhett had any decency105 he would realizethey were true. And not talk about them. And it wasn’t any laughing matter either.

  She could hear him chuckling106 softly. Sometimes he was odious107. In fact, most of the time he wasodious. It was awful for a man to know what women really thought about and talked about. Itmade a girl feel positively108 undressed. And no man ever learned such things from good womeneither. She was indignant that he had read her mind. She liked to believe herself a thing of mysteryto men, but she knew Rhett thought her as transparent109 as glass.

  “Speaking of such matters,” he continued, “have you a protector or chaperon in the house? Theadmirable Mrs. Merriwether or Mrs. Meade? They always look at me as if they knew I was herefor no good purpose.”

  “Mrs. Meade usually comes over at night,” answered Scarlett, glad to change the subject “Butshe couldn’t tonight Phil, her boy, is home.”

  “What luck,” he said softly, “to find you alone.”

  Something in his voice made her heart beat pleasantly faster and she felt her face flush. She hadheard that note in men’s voices often enough to know that it presaged110 a declaration of love. Oh,what fun! If he would just say he loved her, how she would torment him and get even with him forall the sarcastic111 remarks he had flung at her these past three years. She would lead him a chase thatwould make up for even that awful humiliation112 of the day he witnessed her slapping Ashley. Andthen she’d tell him sweetly she could only be a sister to him and retire with the full honors of war.

  She laughed nervously113 in pleasant anticipation114.

  “Don’t giggle,” he said, and taking her hand, he turned it over and pressed his lips into the palm.

  Something vital, electric, leaped from him to her at the touch of his warm mouth, something thatcaressed her whole body thrillingly. His lips traveled to her wrist and she knew he must feel theleap of her pulse as her heart quickened and she tried to draw back her hand. She had not bargainedon this—this treacherous115 warm tide of feeling that made her want to run her hands through hishair, to feel his lips upon her mouth.

  She wasn’t in love with him, she told herself confusedly. She was in love with Ashley. But howto explain this feeling that made her hands shake and the pit of her stomach grow cold?

  He laughed softly.

  “Don’t pull away! I won’t hurt you!”

  “Hurt me? I’m not afraid of you, Rhett Butler, or of any man in shoe leather!” she cried, furiousthat her voice shook as well as her hands.

  “An admirable sentiment, but do lower your voice. Mrs. Wilkes might hear you. And praycompose yourself.” He sounded as though delighted at her flurry.

  “Scarlett, you do like me, don’t you?”

  That was more like, what she was expecting.

  “Well, sometimes,” she answered cautiously. “When you aren’t acting116 like a varmint.”

  He laughed again and held the palm of her hand against his hard cheek.

  “I think you like me because I am a varmint. You’ve known so few dyed-in-the-wool varmintsin your sheltered life that my very difference holds a quaint117 charm for you.”

  This was not the turn she had anticipated and she tried again without success to pull her handfree.

  “That’s not true! I like nice men—men you can depend on to always be gentlemanly.”

  “You mean men you can always bully52. It’s merely a matter of definition. But no matter.”

  He kissed her palm again, and again the skin on the back of her neck crawled excitingly.

  “But you do like me. Could you ever love me, Scarlett?”

  “Ah!” she thought, triumphantly118. “Now I’ve got him!” And she answered with studied coolness:

  “Indeed, no. That is—not unless you mended your manners considerably119.”

  “And I have no intention of mending them. So you could not love me? That is as I hoped. Forwhile I like you immensely, I do not love you and it would be tragic120 indeed for you to suffer twicefrom unrequited love, wouldn’t it, dear? May I call you ‘dear,’ Mrs. Hamilton? I shall call you‘dear’ whether you like it or not, so no matter, but the proprieties121 must be observed.”

  “You don’t love me?”

  “No, indeed. Did you hope that I did?”

  “Don’t be so presumptuous122!”

  “You hoped! Alas123, to blight124 your hopes! I should love you, for you are charming and talented atmany useless accomplishments125. But many ladies have charm and accomplishments and are just asuseless as you are. No, I don’t love you. But I do like you tremendously—for the elasticity126 of yourconscience, for the selfishness which you seldom trouble to hide, and for the shrewd practicality inyou which, I fear, you get from some not too remote Irish-peasant ancestor.”

  Peasant! Why, he was insulting her! She began to splutter wordlessly.

  “Don’t interrupt,” he begged, squeezing her hand. “I like you because I have those samequalities in me and like begets127 liking128. I realize you still cherish the memory of the godlike andwooden-headed Mr. Wilkes, who’s probably been in his grave these six months. But there must beroom in your heart for me too. Scarlett, do stop wriggling! I am making you a declaration. I have wanted you since the first time I laid eyes on you, in the hall of Twelve Oaks, when you werebewitching poor Charlie Hamilton. I want you more than I have ever wanted any woman—andI’ve waited longer for you than I’ve ever waited for any woman.”

  She was breathless with surprise at his last words. In spite of all his insults, he did love her andhe was just so contrary he didn’t want to come out frankly and put it into words, for fear she’dlaugh. Well, she’d show him and right quickly.

  “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  He dropped her hand and laughed so loudly she shrank back in her chair.

  “Good Lord, no! Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t a marrying man?”

  “But—but—what—”

  He rose to his feet and, hand on heart, made her a burlesque129 bow.

  “Dear,” he said quietly, “I am complimenting your intelligence by asking you to be my mistresswithout having first seduced130 you.”

  Mistress!

  Her mind shouted the word, shouted that she had been vilely insulted. But in that first startledmoment she did not feel insulted. She only felt a furious surge of indignation that he should thinkher such a fool. He must think her a fool if he offered her a proposition like that, instead of theproposal of matrimony she had been expecting. Rage, punctured131 vanity and disappointment threwher mind into a turmoil132 and, before she even thought of the high moral grounds on which sheshould upbraid133 him, she blurted134 out the first words which came to her lips—“Mistress! What would I get out of that except a passel of brats135?”

  And then her jaw136 dropped in horror as she realized what she had said. He laughed until hechoked, peering at her in the shadows as she sat, stricken dumb, pressing her handkerchief to hermouth.

  “That’s why I like you! You are the only frank woman I know, the only woman who looks on thepractical side of matters without beclouding the issue with mouthings about sin and morality. Anyother woman would have swooned first and then shown me the door.”

  Scarlett leaped to her feet, her face red with shame. How could she have said such a thing! Howcould she, Ellen’s daughter, with her upbringing, have sat there and listened to such debasingwords and then made such a shameless reply? She should have screamed. She should have fainted.

  She should have turned coldly away in silence and swept from the porch. Too late now!

  “I will show you the door,” she shouted, not caring if Melanie or the Meades, down the street,did hear her. “Get out! How dare you say such things to me! What have I ever done to encourageyou—to make you suppose ... Get out and don’t ever come back here. I mean it this time. Don’tyou ever come back here with any of your piddling papers of pins and ribbons, thinking I’ll forgiveyou. I’ll—I’ll tell my father and he’ll kill you!”

  He picked up his hat and bowed and she saw in the light of the lamp that his teeth were showingin a smile beneath his mustache. He was not ashamed, he was amused at what she had said, and he was watching her with alert interest.

  Oh, he was detestable! She swung round on her heel and marched into the house. She grabbedhold of the door to shut it with a bang, but the hook which held it open was too heavy for her. Shestruggled with it, panting.

  “May I help you?” he asked.

  Feeling that she would burst a blood vessel137 if she stayed another minute, she stormed up thestairs. And as she reached the upper floor, she heard him obligingly slam the door for her.

  围城初期,北方佬到处轰击城防工事时,思嘉被震天的炮弹声吓得瑟瑟发抖,双手捂着耳朵,准备随时被炸得一命呜呼,见上帝去。她一听见炮弹到来前那嘘嘘的尖啸声,就立即冲进媚兰房里,猛地扑倒在床上媚兰的身边,两个人紧紧抱在一起,把头埋在枕头底下,"啊!啊!"地惊叫着,百里茜和韦德也急忙向地窖跑去,在地窖里挂满蜘蛛网的黑暗角落蹲下来,百里茜扯着嗓子大声尖叫,韦德则低声哭泣,伤心地打着嗝儿。
  思嘉被羽绒枕头捂得出不来气了,而死神还在上空一声声尖啸,这时她暗暗诅咒媚兰,怪媚兰连累她不能躲到楼下较安全的地方去。因为大夫禁止媚兰走动,而思嘉必须留在她身边。除了害怕被炮弹炸个粉碎以外,她还担心媚兰随时会生孩子。每每想起这一点她就浑身冒汗,衣服都湿了。要是孩子偏偏在这个时候降生,她可怎么办呢?她想,在这炮弹如雨的当儿,她宁愿让媚兰死掉也不能跑到大街上去寻找大夫,如果叫百里茜去冒这个险,她也清楚,那不等她出门就会被炸死的。要是媚兰生孩子了,她该怎么办啊?
  关于这些事情,有个下午她和百里茜在准备媚兰的晚餐时,曾低声商量过,百里茜倒令人惊讶地把她的恐惧打消了。
  “等到媚兰小姐真的要生了,思嘉小姐,就算俺不能出去找医生,您也用不着烦恼。俺能对付。这接生的事,俺全知道,俺妈不就是个接生婆,她不是教会俺也能接生了?您就把这事交给俺好了。"思嘉知道身边有个在行的人,便觉得轻松了些。不过她仍然盼望这场严峻的考验快些过去。她一心想离开这炮火连天之地,已惶惶不可终日;她要回塔拉去,更是迫不及待了。
  她每天晚上都在祈祷,要媚兰的孩子第二天就生下来。那样她就可以解脱自己的诺言,早日离开亚特兰大。塔拉在她心目中是多么安全,与这一切的苦难是多么不相干啊!
  思嘉渴望回家去看母亲,这样的焦急心情她是从来不曾有过的。只要她是在母亲身边,无论发生什么事情。她都不会害怕了。每天晚上,在熬过了一整天震耳欲聋的炮弹呼啸声之后,她上床睡觉时总是下决心要在第二天早晨告诉媚兰,她在亚特兰大一天也待不下去了。她一定要回家,媚兰只能住在米德太太那里去。可是头一搁到枕上,她便又记起艾希礼临别时的那副面容,那副因内心痛苦而绷得很紧但嘴唇上勉强露出一丝笑容的面容:“你会照顾媚兰,不是吗?你很坚强……请答应我。"结果她答应了他。如今艾希礼不知躺在什么地方死了。无论是在何处,他仍然在瞧着她,叫她恪守自己的诺言,生也罢,死也罢,她都决不能让他失望,不管要付出多高的代价,就这样,她一天天留下来了。
  爱伦写信来敦促女儿回家,思嘉回信时一面极力说小围城中的危险,一面详细说明媚兰目前的苦境,并答应等媚兰分娩后便立即回去。爱伦对于亲属关系,无论血亲姻亲,都是很重情感的,她回信勉强同意思嘉留下来,但要求将韦德和百里茜立即送回去。这个建议百里茜完全赞同,因为她现在一听到什么突如起来的响声,就要吓得两排牙齿格格地打颤,她每天得花那么多时间蹲在地窖里,如果不是米德太太家的贝特西得了大忙,两位姑娘的日子就不知怎么过了。
  像她母亲一样思嘉急于要让韦德离开亚特兰大,这不仅是为孩子的安全,而且因为他整天惶恐不安,令思嘉厌烦透了。韦德经常给大炮声震得说不出话来,即使炮声停息了,也总默默在牵着思嘉的裙子,哭也不敢哭一声,晚上他不敢上床,害怕黑暗,害怕睡着了北方佬会跑来把他抓走,到了深夜,他那神经质的低声啜泣也会把思嘉折磨得难以忍受。实际上,思嘉自己也和他一样害怕,不过每当他那神情紧张的面容提醒她想到这一点时,她马上就火了。是的,塔拉是对韦德唯一适宜的地方。应当让百里茜送他到那里去,然后即刻回来料理媚兰分娩的事。
  但是,思嘉还没来得及打发他们两人动身回去,便突然听到消息说北方佬已迫到南面,亚特兰大和琼斯博罗之间的铁路沿线打起来了,要是北方佬把韦德和百里茜乘的那列火车截获了呢----想到这里,思嘉和媚兰不由得脸都白了,因为谁都知道北方佬对待儿童比妇女还要残暴,这样一来,她就不敢把他送回家去,只好让他继续留在亚特兰大,像个受惊的默默无声的小幽灵整天啪哒啪哒地跟在母亲后面,紧紧抓住她的衣襟,生怕一松手就丢掉了自己的小命似的。
  在七月炎热天,从月初到月尾,围城的战斗在继续进行,炮声隆隆的白天和寂寥险恶的黑夜连续不断,市民也开始适应这种局势了,大家仿佛觉得最坏的情况已经发生,也不会有什么更可怕的了。他们以前对围城十分害怕,可现在围城已终于成了事实,看来也不怎么样。生活差不多还能像往常一样地过,而且的确在这样过着,当然,他们也知道自己坐在火山上,可是不到火山爆发他们是什么也做不成的。那么,现在又何必着急呢?何况,火山还不一定爆发啊!请看,胡德将军正在挡住北方佬,不让他们进城嘛!请看,骑兵团正在坚守通往梅肯的铁路嘛!谢尔曼永远也休想占领它!
  不过,尽管人们在纷纷降落的炮弹面前和粮食愈来愈短缺的情况下,仍装出无忧无虑的样子,尽管他们瞧不起就在半英里外的北方佬,尽管他们对战壕里那支褴褛的联盟军部队坚信不疑,亚特兰大人在内心里仍然是惶惶无主的,不知明天早晨会发生什么事情。焦虑、烦恼、忧愁、饥饿,以及随着那睡或了又低落、低落了又上升的希望而日益加深的痛苦,正在磨损着当前形势的薄薄外表,很快要露出其实质来了。
  思嘉渐渐学会了从朋友们的脸上和自然的有效调节中汲取勇气,因为事情既然已无法挽救,也就只好忍受。说真的,她每次听到爆炸声仍不免要惊跳一下,但是她不再吓得尖叫着跑去把头钻在媚兰的枕头底下了。她现在已能抑制住自己并怯怯地说:“这发炮弹很近,是不是?"她不再像以前那样害怕了,这里还有一个原因,即生活已染上一种梦幻般的色彩,而梦太可怕,不可能真实的。她思嘉·奥哈拉不可能沦于这样的苦境,这样每时每刻都有死亡的危险。生活本来应有的那种风平浪静的过程,不可能在这么短的时间里就彻底改变了。
  那是不真实的,罕见地不真实,难道天亮时还那么湛蓝的晨空会被这些像雨云般低悬在城市上头的大炮硝烟所污染,难道那弥漫着忍冬和蔷微花的浓烈香味的温暖中午会这样可怖,让炮弹呼啸着闯入市区,像世界末日的雷声轰然爆炸,把居民和动物活活地炸得粉碎吗?这是非常不真实的啊!
  以前那种安安静静、昏昏沉沉的午睡现在没有了,因为尽管作战的喧嚣声有时也平息一会,但桃树街仍整天嘈杂不堪,时而炮车和救护车隆隆驶过,伤兵从战壕里蹒跚而出,时而有的连队从市区一头的壕沟里奉命急忙跑到另一头去,防守那里受到严重的威胁的堡垒;时而通讯兵在大街上拼命奔跑赶到司令部去,仿佛南部联盟的命运就系在他们身上似的。
  炎热的晚上有时会稍稍安静一些,但这种安静也是不正常的。如果说那是沉寂,就未免太沉寂了----仿佛雨蛙、蝈蝈儿和瞌睡的模仿鸟都吓得不敢在通常的夏夜合唱中出声了。这寂静有时也被最后防线中的哒哒的毛瑟枪声所打破。
  到了半夜,往往在灯火熄灭、媚兰已经睡熟、全城也一片寂静的时候,思嘉还清醒地躺在床上,听见前面大门上铁闩的哗啦声和前屋轻轻的叩门声。
  常常,一些面貌模糊不清的士兵站在黑暗的走廊上,好几个人同时从黑暗中对她说话,有时那些黑影中会传来一个文雅的声音:“请原谅我打扰你了。太太,能不能让我和我的马喝点水呢?"有时是一个带粗重喉音的山民口音,有时是南方草原地区的鼻音;偶尔也有滨海地方那种平静而缓慢的声调,它使思嘉想起了母亲的声音。
  “俺这里有伴儿,小姐,俺本想把他送到医院里去,可是他好像再也走不动了,你让他进来好吗?”
  “太太,俺真的什么都能吃,你要是能给,俺倒是很想吃玉米饼呢。”“太太,请原谅我太冒失了,可是----能不能让我在走廊上过一夜?我看到这蔷薇花,闻到忍冬的香味,就好像到了家里,所以我大胆----"不,这些夜晚不是真的!它们是一场恶梦,那些士兵是恶梦的组成部分,那些看不见身子或面貌的士兵,他们只是些疲倦的声音在炎热的夜雾里对她说话罢了。打水,给吃的,把枕头摆在走廊上,包扎伤口,扶着垂死者的头,不,所有这些都不可能是她真正做过的事!
  有一次,七月下旬的一个深夜,是亨利叔叔来叩门了。亨利叔叔的雨伞手提包都没有了,他那肥胖的肚皮也没有了。他那张又红又胖的脸现在松驰地下垂着,像牛头犬喉下的垂肉似的。他那头长长的白发已经脏得难以形容。他几乎是光着脚,满身虱子,一副挨饿的模样,不过他那暴躁的脾气却一点没有改变。
  尽管他说过:“连我这种人也背着枪上前线了,这是一场愚蠢的战争,"但是姑娘们的印象中,亨利叔叔还是很乐意这样做的。因为战争需要他,犹如需要青年人一样,而他也在做一个青年人的工作。此外,他告诉思嘉,他还赶得上青年人,可这一点,他高兴地说,却是梅里韦瑟爷爷所办不到的。
  梅里韦瑟爷爷的腰痛病厉害得很,队长想叫他退伍,但他自己不愿意走。他坦白地说他情愿挨队长的训斥,也不要儿媳妇来过分细心的照料,絮絮叨叨地叫他戒掉嚼烟草的习惯和天天洗胡子。
  亨利叔叔这次的来访为时很短,因为他只有四小时假,而且从围城到这里来回就得花费一半的时间。
  “姑娘们,往后我怕会有很长一段时间不能来看你们了,"他在媚兰卧室里一坐下就这样宣布,一面把那双打了泡的脚放在思嘉端来的一盆凉水里,心情享受似地搓着。"我们团明天早晨就要开走了。”“到哪儿去?"媚兰吃惊地问他,赶忙抓住他的胳臂。
  “别用手碰我,"亨利叔叔厌烦地说。"我身上满是虱子,战争要是没有虱子和痢疾,就简直成了野外旅行了。我到哪儿去?这个嘛,人家也没告诉我,不过我倒是猜得着的。我们要往南开,到琼斯博罗去,明天早晨走,除非我完全错了。”“唔,干吗到琼斯博罗去呢?”“因为那里要打仗呀,小姐。北方佬如果有可能,是要去抢那铁路的。要是他们果真抢走了,那就再会了,亚特兰大!”“唔,你看他们会抢得着吗?亨利叔叔?”“呸,姑娘们!不会的!他们怎么可能呢?有我在那儿,"亨利叔叔朝那两张惊惶的脸孔咧嘴笑了笑,随即又严肃起来:“那将是一场恶战,姑娘们。我们不能不打赢它。你们知道,当然喽,北方佬已经占领所有的铁路,只剩下到梅肯去的那一条了,不过这还不是他们所得到的一切呢。也许你们还不清楚,他们的确还占领了每一条公路,每一条赶车和骑马的小道,除了克藺诺公路以外。亚特兰大好比在一个口袋里,这口袋的两根拉绳就在琼斯博罗。要是北方佬能占领那里的铁路,他们就会把绳子拉紧,把我们抓住,像抓袋子里的老鼠一样。所以我们不想让他们去占那条铁路……我可能要离开一个时候了,姑娘们。我这次来就是向你们大家告别的,并且看看思嘉是不是还跟你在一起,媚兰。”“当然喽,她跟我在一起,"媚兰亲昵地说。"你不用替我们担心,亨利叔叔,自己要多保重。"亨利叔叔把两只脚在地毯上擦干,然后哼哼着穿上那双破鞋。
  “我要走了,"他说。"我还得走五英里路呢。思嘉,你给我弄点吃的东西带上。有什么带什么。"他吻了吻媚兰,便下楼到厨房去了,思嘉正在厨房里用餐巾包一个玉米卷子和几只苹果。
  “亨利叔叔,难道----难道真的这样严重了吗?”“严重?我的天,真的!不要再糊涂了。我们已退到最后一条壕沟了。”“你看他们会打到塔拉去吗?”“怎么----"亨利叔叔对于这种在大难当头时只顾个人私事的妇女的想法,感到很恼火。但接着看见她那惊慌苦恼的表情,也就心软了。
  “当然,他们不会到那里去。北方佬要的只是铁路。塔拉离铁路有五英里,不过小姐,你这个人的见识也实在太短了。"说到这里他突然停顿了一下。"今天晚上我跑这许多路到这里来,并不是要向你们告别。我是给媚兰送坏消息来的。可是我刚要开口又觉得不能告诉她,因此我才下楼对你说,让你去处理好了。”“艾希礼不是----难道你听说----他已经死了?”“可是,我守着壕沟,半个身子埋在烂泥里,怎么能听到关于艾希礼的消息呢?"老先生不耐烦地反问她。"不,这是关于他父亲的。约翰·威尔克斯死了。"思嘉手里捧着那份还没包好的午餐,顿时颓然坐下。
  “我是来告诉媚兰的----可是开不了口。你得替我办这件事,并且把这些给她。”他从口袋里掏出一只沉重的金表,表中吊着几颗印章,还有一幅早已去世威尔克斯太太的小小肖像和一对粗大的袖扣。思嘉一见她曾经从约翰·威尔克斯手里见过上千次的那只金表,便完全明白艾希礼的父亲真的死了。她吓得叫不出声也说不出话来。亨利叔叔一时坐立不安,接连假咳了几声,但不敢看她,生怕被她脸上的泪水弄得更加难受。
  “他是个勇敢的人,思嘉。把这话告诉媚兰。叫她给他的几个女儿写封信去。他一生都是个好军人。一发炮弹打中了他,正落在他和他的马身上。马受了重伤----后来是我把它宰了,可怜的畜生。那是一匹很好小母马。你最好也写封信给塔尔顿太太,告诉她这件事。她非常珍爱这骑马。好了,亲爱的,不要太伤心了。对于一个老头子来说,只要做了一个青年人应当做的事,死了不也很值得吗?”“啊,他根本就不该上前线去。他是不应该死的!他本来可以活下去看着他的孙子长大,然后平平安安地终老。啊,他干吗要去呀?他本来不主张分裂,憎恨战争,而且----”“我们许多人都是这样想的,可这有什么用呢?"亨利叔叔粗暴地擤了擤鼻子。
  “你以为像我这把年纪还乐意去充当北方佬的枪靶子吗?
  可是这年月一个上等人没有什么旁的选择呀。分手时亲亲我吧,孩子,不要为我担心,我会闯过这场战争平安归来的。"思嘉吻了吻他,听见他走下台阶到了黑暗的院子里,接着是前面大门上哗啦一响的门闩声。她凝望着手里的纪念物,在原地站了一会,然后跑上楼告诉媚兰去了。
  到七月末,传来了不受欢迎的消息,那就是像亨利叔叔预言过的,北方佬又走了个弯子向琼斯博罗打去了。他们切断了城南四英里处的铁路线,但很快被联盟军骑兵击退;工程队在火热的太阳下赶忙修复了那条铁路。
  思嘉焦急得快要疯了。她怀着恐慌的心情接连等待了三天,这才收到杰拉尔德的一封信,于是放下心来。敌军并没有打到塔拉。他们听到交战的声音,但是没看见北方佬。
  杰拉尔德的信中谈到北方佬怎样被联盟军从铁路上击退时充满了吹嘘和大话,仿佛是他自己单枪骑马立下了这赫赫战功似的。他用整整三页纸描写部队的英勇,末了才简单地提了一笔说卡琳生病了。据奥哈拉太太说是得了伤寒,但并不严重,所以思嘉不必为她担心,而且即使铁路已安全通车,思嘉现在也不用回家了。奥哈拉太太很高兴,觉得思嘉和韦德没有在围城开始时回去是完全正确的。她说思嘉必须到教堂里去作些祈祷,为了卡琳早日康复。
  思嘉对母亲的这一吩咐感到十分内疚,因为她已经好几个月不上教堂去了。要是在以前,她会把这种疏忽看成莫大的罪过,可是现在,不进教堂就好像并不那么有罪了。不过她还是按照母亲的意愿走进自己房里,跪在地上匆匆念了一遍《玫瑰经》。她站起来时,倒并不觉得像过去念完经以后那样心里舒服一些。近来,她已感到上帝并不是在照顾她和南部联盟,尽管成百万的祈祷者每天都在祈求他的恩惠。
  那天夜里她坐在前廊上,把杰拉尔德的信揣在怀里,这样她可以随时摸摸它,觉得塔拉和母亲就在身边似的。客厅窗台上的灯将零碎的金黄的光影投射在黑暗的挂满藤蔓的走廊上。攀缘的黄蔷薇和忍冬纠缠一起,在她四周构成一道芳香四溢的围墙。夜静极了。从日落以来连哒哒的步枪声也没有听到过,世界好像离人们很远了。思嘉一个人坐在椅子里前后摇晃着,因读了来自塔拉的信而苦恼不堪,很希望有个人,无论什么人,能跟她在一起。可是梅里韦瑟太太在医院里值夜班,米德太太在家里款待从前线回来的费尔,媚兰又早已睡着了。连一个偶尔来访的客人也是不会有的。那些平常来访的人都已无影无踪,到上个星期,因为凡是能走路的人都进了战壕,或者到琼斯博罗附近的乡下追逐北方佬去了。
  她往常并不是这样孤独的,而且她也不喜欢这样。因她一个人待着就是得思考,而这些日子思考并不是怎么愉快的事。和别人一样,她已经养成回想往事和死人的习惯了。
  今晚亚特兰大这样安静,她能闭上眼睛想象自己回到了塔拉静穆的田野,生活一点也没有改变,看来也不会改变。不过她知道那个地区的生活是决不会跟从前一样的。她想起塔尔顿家四兄弟,那对红头发的孪生兄弟和汤姆与博伊德,不由得一阵悲怆把她的喉咙给哽住了。怎么,斯图或布伦特不是有一个可能做她的丈夫吗?可如今,当战争过后她回到塔拉去住时,却再也听不见他们在林荫道上一路跑来时那狂热的呼唤声了。还有雷福德·卡尔弗特那个最会跳舞的小伙子,他也再不会挑选她当舞伴了。至于芒罗家的一群和小个子乔·方丹,以及----“啊,艾希礼!"她两手捧着头啜泣起来。"我永远也无法承认你已经没了啊!”这时她听见前面大门哗啦一声响了,便连忙抬起头来,用手背擦了擦泪水模糊的眼睛。她站起身来一看,原来是瑞德·巴特勒,手里拿着那顶宽边巴拿马帽,从人行道上走过来了。自从他那次在五点镇突然跳下马来以后,她一直没有碰见过他。当时她就表示过,她再也不想同他见面了。可是她现在却非常高兴有个人来跟她谈谈,来把她的注意力从艾希礼身上引开,于是她赶紧将心头的记忆搁到一边去了。瑞德显然已忘记了那桩尴尬事,或者是装做忘记了,你看他在顶上一级台阶上她的脚边坐下来,绝口不提他俩之间过去的争论。
  “原来你没逃到梅肯去呀!我听说皮蒂小姐已撤退了,所以,当然喽,以为你也走了。刚才看见你屋子里有灯光,便特地进来想打听一下。你干吗还留在这里呢?”“给媚兰作伴嘛,你想,她----嗯,她眼下没法去逃难呢。”“嘿,"她从灯光底下看见他皱起眉头。"你这是告诉我威尔克斯太太不在这里?我可从来没听说有这种傻事。在她目前的情况下,留在这里可相当危险啊!"思嘉觉得很不好意思,不作声,因为关于媚兰的处境,她是不能跟一个男人谈论的。使她感到难为情的还有,瑞德居然知道那对媚兰是危险的事呢。一个单身汉会懂得这种事情,总有点不体面啊!
  “你一点不考虑我也可能出事,这未免太不仗义了吧,"她酸溜溜地说。
  他乐得眼睛里闪闪发光了。
  “我会随时保护你不受北方佬欺侮的。”
  “我还不清楚这算不算一句恭维话。"她用怀疑的口气说。
  “当然不算,"他答道:“你什么时候才不到男人们最随便的表白中去寻找什么恭维呢?”“等我躺到了灵床上才行,"她微笑着回答,心想常常有男人来恭维她呢,即使瑞德从没有这样做过。
  “虚荣心,虚荣心,"他说。"至少,你在这一点上是坦白的。"他打开他的烟盒,拈出一支黑雪茄放到鼻子前闻了闻,然后划亮一根火柴。他靠在一根柱子上,双手抱膝,静静地吸烟。思嘉又在躺椅里摇晃起来。黑暗的夜雾浓密而温暖。他们周围一片静悄悄,平息在蔷薇和忍冬密丛中的模仿鸟从睡梦中醒过来,小心而流利地唱了几声。接着,仿佛经过一番审慎的思考,它又沉默了。
  这时,瑞德突然从走廊的黑影中笑出声来,低声而柔和地笑着。
  “所以你就跟威尔克斯太太留下来了!这可是我从没碰到过的最奇怪的局面!”“我倒看不出有什么奇怪的地方,"思嘉不安地回答,立即引起了警惕。
  “没有吗?这样一来你就不易客观地看问题了。过去一些时候以来,我的印象是你很难容忍威尔克斯太太。你认为她又傻气又愚蠢,同时她的爱国思想也使你感到厌烦。你很少放过机会不趁势说两句挖苦话,因此我自然会觉得十分奇怪,怎么你居然会做这种无私的事,会在这炮声震天的形势下陪着她留下来了。你究竟为什么这样做啊?说吧。”“因为她是查理的妹妹嘛----而且对我也像姐妹一样,”思嘉用尽可能庄重的口气回答,尽管她脸上已在发烧了。
  “你是说因为她是艾希礼的遗孀吧。”
  思嘉连忙站起来,极力抑制住心中的怒火。
  “你上次对我那样放肆,我本来已准备饶恕你,可现在再也不行了。今天要不是我正感十分苦闷,我本来是决不会让你踏上这走廊来的。而且----”“请坐下来,消消气吧,"他的口气有点变了。他伸出手拉着她的胳臂,把她拖回椅子上。"你为什么苦闷呢?”“唔,我今天收到一封从塔拉来的信,北方佬离我家很近了,我的小妹妹又得了伤寒,所以----所以----即使我现在能够如愿地回去,妈妈也不会同意的,因为怕我也传上呢!”“嗯,不过你也别因此就哭呀,"他说,口气更温和了些。
  “你如今在亚特兰大,即使北方佬来了,也比在塔拉要安全些。
  北方佬不会伤害你的,但伤寒病却会。”“你怎么能说这种仆人的话呢?北方佬不会伤害我?”“我亲爱的姑娘,北方佬不是魔鬼嘛。他们并不如你所想像的,头上没有长角,脚上没有长蹄子。他们和南方人一样漂亮----当然嘛,礼貌上要差一点,口音也很难听。”“哼,北方佬会----”“会强奸你?我想不会。虽然他们很可能有这种念头。”“要是你再说这种粗话,我就要进屋了,"她厉声喝道,同时庆幸周围的阴影把她那羞红的脸遮住了。
  “老实说吧,你心里是不是这样想的?”
  “啊,当然不是!”
  “可实际是这样嘛!不要因为我猜透了你的心思就生气呀。那都是我们这些娇生惯养和正经的南方太太们的想法呢。
  她们老担心这件事。我可以打赌,甚至像梅里韦瑟太太这样有钱的寡妇……”思嘉强忍着没有出声,想起这些日子凡是两个以上太太在一起的地方,她们无不偷偷谈论这样的事,不过一般都发生在弗吉尼亚或田纳西,或者在路易斯安那,而不是离家乡很近的地方。北方佬强奸妇女,用刺刀捅儿童的肚子,焚烧里面还有老人的住宅。人人都知道这些都确有其事,他们只不过没有在街角上大声嚷嚷罢了。如果瑞德还有点礼貌的话,他应该明白这是真的,也用不着谈论。何况这也不是开玩笑的事埃她听得见他在吃吃地暗笑。他有时很讨厌。实际上他在大多数时候都是讨厌的。这太可怕了。一个男人居然懂得并且谈论女人心里在想些什么,这会叫一个姑娘觉得自己身上一丝不挂似的。而且也没有哪个男人会从正经妇女那里了解这种事情。思嘉因为他看透了她的心思而十分生气。她宁愿相信自己是男人无法了解的一个秘密,可是她知道,瑞德却把她看得像玻璃一样透明。
  “我倒要问问你,谈到这种事情,"他继续说,"你们身边有没有人保卫或监护呢?是令人钦佩的梅里韦瑟太太,还是米德太太?仿佛知道我到这里来是不怀好意似的。她们一直盯着我。”“米德太太晚上常过来看看,"思嘉答道,很高兴能换个话题了。"不过,她今天晚上不能来。她儿子费尔回家了。”“真是好运气,”他轻松地说,"碰上


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 defense AxbxB     
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩
参考例句:
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
2 eternity Aiwz7     
n.不朽,来世;永恒,无穷
参考例句:
  • The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
  • Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞,永世相随。
3 heralded a97fc5524a0d1c7e322d0bd711a85789     
v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 );宣布(好或重要)
参考例句:
  • The singing of the birds heralded in the day. 鸟鸣报晓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 wade nMgzu     
v.跋涉,涉水;n.跋涉
参考例句:
  • We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
  • We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。
5 scurried 5ca775f6c27dc6bd8e1b3af90f3dea00     
v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She said goodbye and scurried back to work. 她说声再见,然后扭头跑回去干活了。
  • It began to rain and we scurried for shelter. 下起雨来,我们急忙找地方躲避。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 crouched 62634c7e8c15b8a61068e36aaed563ab     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
  • The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身,准备猛扑。
7 sobbing df75b14f92e64fc9e1d7eaf6dcfc083a     
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的
参考例句:
  • I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
  • Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。
8 feat 5kzxp     
n.功绩;武艺,技艺;adj.灵巧的,漂亮的,合适的
参考例句:
  • Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
  • He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。
9 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
10 kin 22Zxv     
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的
参考例句:
  • He comes of good kin.他出身好。
  • She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。
11 yearned df1a28ecd1f3c590db24d0d80c264305     
渴望,切盼,向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The people yearned for peace. 人民渴望和平。
  • She yearned to go back to the south. 她渴望回到南方去。
12 ordeal B4Pzs     
n.苦难经历,(尤指对品格、耐力的)严峻考验
参考例句:
  • She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
  • Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。
13 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
参考例句:
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
14 screeching 8bf34b298a2d512e9b6787a29dc6c5f0     
v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 );发出粗而刺耳的声音;高叫
参考例句:
  • Monkeys were screeching in the trees. 猴子在树上吱吱地叫着。
  • the unedifying sight of the two party leaders screeching at each other 两党党魁狺狺对吠的讨厌情景
15 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
16 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
17 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
18 idiocy 4cmzf     
n.愚蠢
参考例句:
  • Stealing a car and then driving it drunk was the ultimate idiocy.偷了车然后醉酒开车真是愚蠢到极点。
  • In this war there is an idiocy without bounds.这次战争疯癫得没底。
19 crouching crouching     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
  • A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
20 stolid VGFzC     
adj.无动于衷的,感情麻木的
参考例句:
  • Her face showed nothing but stolid indifference.她的脸上毫无表情,只有麻木的无动于衷。
  • He conceals his feelings behind a rather stolid manner.他装作无动于衷的样子以掩盖自己的感情。
21 lull E8hz7     
v.使安静,使入睡,缓和,哄骗;n.暂停,间歇
参考例句:
  • The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
  • Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后,地面战又突然爆发了。
22 lulls baacc61e061bb5dc81079f769426f610     
n.间歇期(lull的复数形式)vt.使镇静,使安静(lull的第三人称单数形式)
参考例句:
  • It puts our children to sleep and lulls us into a calm, dreamlike state. 摇晃能让孩子进入梦乡,也能将我们引人一种平静的、梦幻般的心境。 来自互联网
  • There were also comedy acts, impromptu skits, and DJ music to fill the lulls between acts. 也有充满在行为之间的间歇的喜剧行为,即兴之作若干,和DJ音乐。 来自互联网
23 atrocities 11fd5f421aeca29a1915a498e3202218     
n.邪恶,暴行( atrocity的名词复数 );滔天大罪
参考例句:
  • They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
24 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地
参考例句:
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
25 hood ddwzJ     
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖
参考例句:
  • She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
  • The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。
26 cavalry Yr3zb     
n.骑兵;轻装甲部队
参考例句:
  • We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。
  • The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。
27 insouciance 96vxE     
n.漠不关心
参考例句:
  • He replied with characteristic insouciance:"So what?"他以一贯的漫不经心回答道:“那又怎样?”
  • What explains this apparent insouciance?用什么能够解释这种视而不见呢?
28 rations c925feb39d4cfbdc2c877c3b6085488e     
定量( ration的名词复数 ); 配给量; 正常量; 合理的量
参考例句:
  • They are provisioned with seven days' rations. 他们得到了7天的给养。
  • The soldiers complained that they were getting short rations. 士兵们抱怨他们得到的配给不够数。
29 boundless kt8zZ     
adj.无限的;无边无际的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • The boundless woods were sleeping in the deep repose of nature.无边无际的森林在大自然静寂的怀抱中酣睡着。
  • His gratitude and devotion to the Party was boundless.他对党无限感激、无限忠诚。
30 suspense 9rJw3     
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑
参考例句:
  • The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
  • The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。
31 torment gJXzd     
n.折磨;令人痛苦的东西(人);vt.折磨;纠缠
参考例句:
  • He has never suffered the torment of rejection.他从未经受过遭人拒绝的痛苦。
  • Now nothing aggravates me more than when people torment each other.没有什么东西比人们的互相折磨更使我愤怒。
32 burrow EsazA     
vt.挖掘(洞穴);钻进;vi.挖洞;翻寻;n.地洞
参考例句:
  • Earthworms burrow deep into the subsoil.蚯蚓深深地钻进底土。
  • The dog had chased a rabbit into its burrow.狗把兔子追进了洞穴。
33 gulp yQ0z6     
vt.吞咽,大口地吸(气);vi.哽住;n.吞咽
参考例句:
  • She took down the tablets in one gulp.她把那些药片一口吞了下去。
  • Don't gulp your food,chew it before you swallow it.吃东西不要狼吞虎咽,要嚼碎了再咽下去。
34 grotesquely grotesquely     
adv. 奇异地,荒诞地
参考例句:
  • Her arched eyebrows and grotesquely powdered face were at once seductive and grimly overbearing. 眉棱棱着,在一脸的怪粉上显出妖媚而霸道。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • Two faces grotesquely disfigured in nylon stocking masks looked through the window. 2张戴尼龙长袜面罩的怪脸望着窗外。
35 cannon 3T8yc     
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮
参考例句:
  • The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
  • The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。
36 doom gsexJ     
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定
参考例句:
  • The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
  • The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。
37 drowsy DkYz3     
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的
参考例句:
  • Exhaust fumes made him drowsy and brought on a headache.废气把他熏得昏昏沉沉,还引起了头疼。
  • I feel drowsy after lunch every day.每天午饭后我就想睡觉。
38 siestas 0073dbdf7491483fe113664851870644     
n.(气候炎热国家的)午睡,午休( siesta的名词复数 )
参考例句:
39 regiments 874816ecea99051da3ed7fa13d5fe861     
(军队的)团( regiment的名词复数 ); 大量的人或物
参考例句:
  • The three regiments are all under the command of you. 这三个团全归你节制。
  • The town was garrisoned with two regiments. 该镇有两团士兵驻守。
40 sinister 6ETz6     
adj.不吉利的,凶恶的,左边的
参考例句:
  • There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
  • Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值,而且包藏祸心。
41 musket 46jzO     
n.滑膛枪
参考例句:
  • I hunted with a musket two years ago.两年前我用滑膛枪打猎。
  • So some seconds passed,till suddenly Joyce whipped up his musket and fired.又过了几秒钟,突然,乔伊斯端起枪来开了火。
42 latch g2wxS     
n.门闩,窗闩;弹簧锁
参考例句:
  • She laid her hand on the latch of the door.她把手放在门闩上。
  • The repairman installed an iron latch on the door.修理工在门上安了铁门闩。
43 poke 5SFz9     
n.刺,戳,袋;vt.拨开,刺,戳;vi.戳,刺,捅,搜索,伸出,行动散慢
参考例句:
  • We never thought she would poke her nose into this.想不到她会插上一手。
  • Don't poke fun at me.别拿我凑趣儿。
44 abject joVyh     
adj.极可怜的,卑屈的
参考例句:
  • This policy has turned out to be an abject failure.这一政策最后以惨败而告终。
  • He had been obliged to offer an abject apology to Mr.Alleyne for his impertinence.他不得不低声下气,为他的无礼举动向艾莱恩先生请罪。
45 lulling 527d7d72447246a10d6ec5d9f7d047c6     
vt.使镇静,使安静(lull的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Ellen closed her eyes and began praying, her voice rising and falling, lulling and soothing. 爱伦闭上眼睛开始祷告,声音时高时低,像催眠又像抚慰。 来自飘(部分)
46 relish wBkzs     
n.滋味,享受,爱好,调味品;vt.加调味料,享受,品味;vi.有滋味
参考例句:
  • I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
  • I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。
47 pone Xu8yF     
n.玉米饼
参考例句:
  • Give me another mite of that pone before you wrap it up.慢点包,让我再吃口玉米面包吧。
  • He paused and gnawed the tough pone.他停下来,咬一了口硬面包。
48 mare Y24y3     
n.母马,母驴
参考例句:
  • The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。
  • The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。
49 bind Vt8zi     
vt.捆,包扎;装订;约束;使凝固;vi.变硬
参考例句:
  • I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
  • He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。
50 frankly fsXzcf     
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说
参考例句:
  • To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
  • Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
51 bullying f23dd48b95ce083d3774838a76074f5f     
v.恐吓,威逼( bully的现在分词 );豪;跋扈
参考例句:
  • Many cases of bullying go unreported . 很多恐吓案件都没有人告发。
  • All cases of bullying will be severely dealt with. 所有以大欺小的情况都将受到严肃处理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
52 bully bully     
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮
参考例句:
  • A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
  • The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
53 incessant WcizU     
adj.不停的,连续的
参考例句:
  • We have had incessant snowfall since yesterday afternoon.从昨天下午开始就持续不断地下雪。
  • She is tired of his incessant demands for affection.她厌倦了他对感情的不断索取。
54 launder A93z6     
v.洗涤;洗黑钱(把来路可疑的钱弄得似乎合法)
参考例句:
  • She wore a freshly laundered and starched white shirt.她穿一件刚刚浆洗熨烫过的白色衬衣。
  • The gang launders the steal money through their chain of restaurants.这帮匪徒通过他们的连锁饭店洗赃款。
55 wriggling d9a36b6d679a4708e0599fd231eb9e20     
v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等);蠕蠕
参考例句:
  • The baby was wriggling around on my lap. 婴儿在我大腿上扭来扭去。
  • Something that looks like a gray snake is wriggling out. 有一种看来象是灰蛇的东西蠕动着出来了。 来自辞典例句
56 blistered 942266c53a4edfa01e00242d079c0e46     
adj.水疮状的,泡状的v.(使)起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 );(使表皮等)涨破,爆裂
参考例句:
  • He had a blistered heel. 他的脚后跟起了泡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Their hands blistered, but no one complained. 他们手起了泡,可是没有一个人有怨言。 来自《简明英汉词典》
57 irritably e3uxw     
ad.易生气地
参考例句:
  • He lost his temper and snapped irritably at the children. 他发火了,暴躁地斥责孩子们。
  • On this account the silence was irritably broken by a reproof. 为了这件事,他妻子大声斥责,令人恼火地打破了宁静。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
58 bridle 4sLzt     
n.笼头,束缚;vt.抑制,约束;动怒
参考例句:
  • He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
  • I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。
59 strings nh0zBe     
n.弦
参考例句:
  • He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上,随意地拨着吉他的弦。
  • She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
60 groaned 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71     
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦
参考例句:
  • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
  • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
61 tattered bgSzkG     
adj.破旧的,衣衫破的
参考例句:
  • Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
  • Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。
62 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰
参考例句:
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
63 bug 5skzf     
n.虫子;故障;窃听器;vt.纠缠;装窃听器
参考例句:
  • There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
  • The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。
64 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地,出其不意地
参考例句:
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
65 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
66 testily df69641c1059630ead7b670d16775645     
adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地
参考例句:
  • He reacted testily to reports that he'd opposed military involvement. 有报道称他反对军队参与,对此他很是恼火。 来自柯林斯例句
67 dangling 4930128e58930768b1c1c75026ebc649     
悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口
参考例句:
  • The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果,那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
  • The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上,摇晃着他们的双腿。
68 cuff 4YUzL     
n.袖口;手铐;护腕;vt.用手铐铐;上袖口
参考例句:
  • She hoped they wouldn't cuff her hands behind her back.她希望他们不要把她反铐起来。
  • Would you please draw together the snag in my cuff?请你把我袖口上的裂口缝上好吗?
69 realization nTwxS     
n.实现;认识到,深刻了解
参考例句:
  • We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
  • He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。
70 stunned 735ec6d53723be15b1737edd89183ec2     
adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
  • The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。
71 corps pzzxv     
n.(通信等兵种的)部队;(同类作的)一组
参考例句:
  • The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
  • When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时,他自愿参加了海军陆战队。
72 frantic Jfyzr     
adj.狂乱的,错乱的,激昂的
参考例句:
  • I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
  • He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。
73 brag brag     
v./n.吹牛,自夸;adj.第一流的
参考例句:
  • He made brag of his skill.他夸耀自己技术高明。
  • His wealth is his brag.他夸张他的财富。
74 bluster mRDy4     
v.猛刮;怒冲冲的说;n.吓唬,怒号;狂风声
参考例句:
  • We could hear the bluster of the wind and rain.我们能听到狂风暴雨的吹打声。
  • He was inclined to bluster at first,but he soon dropped.起初他老爱吵闹一阵,可是不久就不做声了。
75 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
76 smote 61dce682dfcdd485f0f1155ed6e7dbcc     
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 )
参考例句:
  • Figuratively, he could not kiss the hand that smote him. 打个比方说,他是不能认敌为友。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • \"Whom Pearl smote down and uprooted, most unmercifully.\" 珠儿会毫不留情地将这些\"儿童\"踩倒,再连根拔起。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
77 omission mjcyS     
n.省略,删节;遗漏或省略的事物,冗长
参考例句:
  • The omission of the girls was unfair.把女孩排除在外是不公平的。
  • The omission of this chapter from the third edition was a gross oversight.第三版漏印这一章是个大疏忽。
78 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
79 ascending CyCzrc     
adj.上升的,向上的
参考例句:
  • Now draw or trace ten dinosaurs in ascending order of size.现在按照体型由小到大的顺序画出或是临摹出10只恐龙。
80 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
81 parlor v4MzU     
n.店铺,营业室;会客室,客厅
参考例句:
  • She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
  • Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店?
82 tangle yIQzn     
n.纠缠;缠结;混乱;v.(使)缠绕;变乱
参考例句:
  • I shouldn't tangle with Peter.He is bigger than me.我不应该与彼特吵架。他的块头比我大。
  • If I were you, I wouldn't tangle with them.我要是你,我就不跟他们争吵。
83 mingled fdf34efd22095ed7e00f43ccc823abdf     
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系]
参考例句:
  • The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
  • The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候,这一男一女就开始交往了。
84 fragrance 66ryn     
n.芬芳,香味,香气
参考例句:
  • The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
  • The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。
85 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地,绝对地
参考例句:
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民,把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
86 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
87 passionate rLDxd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的
参考例句:
  • He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
  • He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。
88 cedars 4de160ce89706c12228684f5ca667df6     
雪松,西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The old cedars were badly damaged in the storm. 风暴严重损害了古老的雪松。
  • Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 1黎巴嫩哪,开开你的门,任火烧灭你的香柏树。
89 sobbed 4a153e2bbe39eef90bf6a4beb2dba759     
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说
参考例句:
  • She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
  • She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
90 tartly 0gtzl5     
adv.辛辣地,刻薄地
参考例句:
  • She finished by tartly pointing out that he owed her some money. 她最后刻薄地指出他欠她一些钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Kay said tartly, "And you're more Yankee than Italian. 恺酸溜溜他说:“可你哪,与其说是意大利人,还不如说是新英格兰人。 来自教父部分
91 flickered 93ec527d68268e88777d6ca26683cc82     
(通常指灯光)闪烁,摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The lights flickered and went out. 灯光闪了闪就熄了。
  • These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. 这些灯象发狂的交通灯一样不停地闪动着。
92 slumber 8E7zT     
n.睡眠,沉睡状态
参考例句:
  • All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
  • Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒,因为他需要休息。
93 impersonal Ck6yp     
adj.无个人感情的,与个人无关的,非人称的
参考例句:
  • Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远,没有人情味。
  • His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。
94 patriotic T3Izu     
adj.爱国的,有爱国心的
参考例句:
  • His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
  • The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。
95 belittling f2b71888b429fab9345a28d38fc35bfe     
使显得微小,轻视,贬低( belittle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • We must be realistic in our self-estimation, neither being conceited nor belittling ourselves. 我们对自己的估计应该实事求是, 不要自高自大,也不要妄自菲薄。
  • I find it belittling to be criticized by someone so much younger than me. 有个比我年轻许多的人批评了我,我觉得是小看了我。
96 boorish EdIyP     
adj.粗野的,乡巴佬的
参考例句:
  • His manner seemed rather boorish.他的举止看上去很俗气。
  • He disgusted many with his boorish behaviour.他的粗野行为让很多人都讨厌他。
97 ruffled e4a3deb720feef0786be7d86b0004e86     
adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • She ruffled his hair affectionately. 她情意绵绵地拨弄着他的头发。
  • All this talk of a strike has clearly ruffled the management's feathers. 所有这些关于罢工的闲言碎语显然让管理层很不高兴。
98 hoofs ffcc3c14b1369cfeb4617ce36882c891     
n.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • The stamp of the horse's hoofs on the wooden floor was loud. 马蹄踏在木头地板上的声音很响。 来自辞典例句
  • The noise of hoofs called him back to the other window. 马蹄声把他又唤回那扇窗子口。 来自辞典例句
99 vilely dd68a42decd052d2561c4705f0fff655     
adv.讨厌地,卑劣地
参考例句:
100 crimson AYwzH     
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色
参考例句:
  • She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
  • Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。
101 nurtured 2f8e1ba68cd5024daf2db19178217055     
养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 ); 培育; 滋长; 助长
参考例句:
  • She is looking fondly at the plants he had nurtured. 她深情地看着他培育的植物。
  • Any latter-day Einstein would still be spotted and nurtured. 任何一个未来的爱因斯坦都会被发现并受到培养。
102 wager IH2yT     
n.赌注;vt.押注,打赌
参考例句:
  • They laid a wager on the result of the race.他们以竞赛的结果打赌。
  • I made a wager that our team would win.我打赌我们的队会赢。
103 gulped 4873fe497201edc23bc8dcb50aa6eb2c     
v.狼吞虎咽地吃,吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 );大口地吸(气);哽住
参考例句:
  • He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out. 他把剩下的茶一饮而尽便出去了。
  • She gulped nervously, as if the question bothered her. 她紧张地咽了一下,似乎那问题把她难住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
104 raped 7a6e3e7dd30eb1e3b61716af0e54d4a2     
v.以暴力夺取,强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 );强奸
参考例句:
  • A young woman was brutally raped in her own home. 一名年轻女子在自己家中惨遭强暴。 来自辞典例句
  • We got stick together, or we will be having our women raped. 我们得团结一致,不然我们的妻女就会遭到蹂躏。 来自辞典例句
105 decency Jxzxs     
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重
参考例句:
  • His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
  • Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。
106 chuckling e8dcb29f754603afc12d2f97771139ab     
轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时,我能听见他的轻声发笑。
  • He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
107 odious l0zy2     
adj.可憎的,讨厌的
参考例句:
  • The judge described the crime as odious.法官称这一罪行令人发指。
  • His character could best be described as odious.他的人格用可憎来形容最贴切。
108 positively vPTxw     
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实
参考例句:
  • She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
  • The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
109 transparent Smhwx     
adj.明显的,无疑的;透明的
参考例句:
  • The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明,可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
  • The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。
110 presaged 3ef3a64d0ddb42df75d28a43e76324ae     
v.预示,预兆( presage的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • This experience presaged my later return as CEA chairman in 2003. 这次的经历预示了我作为经济顾问理事会主席在2003年的回归。 来自互联网
  • He emphasized self-expression, the warm personal note presaged by C.P.E. Bach and Mozart. 他强调自我表现,这种热情的、带有个人色彩的表现足巴赫和莫扎特所预示过的。 来自互联网
111 sarcastic jCIzJ     
adj.讥讽的,讽刺的,嘲弄的
参考例句:
  • I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
  • She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。
112 humiliation Jd3zW     
n.羞辱
参考例句:
  • He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
  • He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
113 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
114 anticipation iMTyh     
n.预期,预料,期望
参考例句:
  • We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着,期待她的到来。
  • The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安,像是感到了地震即将发生。
115 treacherous eg7y5     
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的
参考例句:
  • The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
  • The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。
116 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
117 quaint 7tqy2     
adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的
参考例句:
  • There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里,有很多小巷。
  • They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。
118 triumphantly 9fhzuv     
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地
参考例句:
  • The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
  • Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。
119 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
120 tragic inaw2     
adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的
参考例句:
  • The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
  • Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。
121 proprieties a7abe68b92bbbcb6dd95c8a36305ea65     
n.礼仪,礼节;礼貌( propriety的名词复数 );规矩;正当;合适
参考例句:
  • "Let us not forget the proprieties due. "咱们别忘了礼法。 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
  • Be careful to observe the proprieties. 注意遵守礼仪。 来自辞典例句
122 presumptuous 6Q3xk     
adj.胆大妄为的,放肆的,冒昧的,冒失的
参考例句:
  • It would be presumptuous for anybody to offer such a view.任何人提出这种观点都是太放肆了。
  • It was presumptuous of him to take charge.他自拿主张,太放肆了。
123 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句:
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀!窗子破了!
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
124 blight 0REye     
n.枯萎病;造成破坏的因素;vt.破坏,摧残
参考例句:
  • The apple crop was wiped out by blight.枯萎病使苹果全无收成。
  • There is a blight on all his efforts.他的一切努力都遭到挫折。
125 accomplishments 1c15077db46e4d6425b6f78720939d54     
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就
参考例句:
  • It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
  • Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
126 elasticity 8jlzp     
n.弹性,伸缩力
参考例句:
  • The skin eventually loses its elasticity.皮肤最终会失去弹性。
  • Every sort of spring has a definite elasticity.每一种弹簧都有一定的弹性。
127 begets 900bbe1fb1fde33a940fa4c636f3859f     
v.为…之生父( beget的第三人称单数 );产生,引起
参考例句:
  • It begets at least seven standard type offspring from such matings. 这类交配中生下至少七个标准型后代。 来自辞典例句
  • Violence begets violence until the innocent perish with the guilty. 暴力招致暴力直到这因罪行而无缘无故的毁灭。 来自电影对白
128 liking mpXzQ5     
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢
参考例句:
  • The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
  • I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
129 burlesque scEyq     
v.嘲弄,戏仿;n.嘲弄,取笑,滑稽模仿
参考例句:
  • Our comic play was a burlesque of a Shakespearean tragedy.我们的喜剧是对莎士比亚一出悲剧的讽刺性模仿。
  • He shouldn't burlesque the elder.他不应模仿那长者。
130 seduced 559ac8e161447c7597bf961e7b14c15f     
诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 ); 勾引; 诱使堕落; 使入迷
参考例句:
  • The promise of huge profits seduced him into parting with his money. 高额利润的许诺诱使他把钱出了手。
  • His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。
131 punctured 921f9ed30229127d0004d394b2c18311     
v.在(某物)上穿孔( puncture的过去式和过去分词 );刺穿(某物);削弱(某人的傲气、信心等);泄某人的气
参考例句:
  • Some glass on the road punctured my new tyre. 路上的玻璃刺破了我的新轮胎。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A nail on the road punctured the tyre. 路上的钉子把车胎戳穿了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
132 turmoil CKJzj     
n.骚乱,混乱,动乱
参考例句:
  • His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
  • The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。
133 upbraid jUNzP     
v.斥责,责骂,责备
参考例句:
  • The old man upbraided him with ingratitude.那位老人斥责他忘恩负义。
  • His wife set about upbraiding him for neglecting the children.他妻子开始指责他不照顾孩子。
134 blurted fa8352b3313c0b88e537aab1fcd30988     
v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止,她已脱口而出。
  • He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相,说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
135 brats 956fd5630fab420f5dae8ea887f83cd9     
n.调皮捣蛋的孩子( brat的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • I've been waiting to get my hands on you brats. 我等着干你们这些小毛头已经很久了。 来自电影对白
  • The charming family had turned into a parcel of brats. 那个可爱的家庭一下子变成了一窝臭小子。 来自互联网
136 jaw 5xgy9     
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训
参考例句:
  • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
  • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
137 vessel 4L1zi     
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管
参考例句:
  • The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
  • You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533