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Chapter 32
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SHE WAS STILL CLUTCHING the ball of red clay when she went up the front steps. She hadcarefully avoided the back entrance, for Mammy’s sharp eyes would certainly have seen thatsomething was greatly amiss. Scarlett did not want to see Mammy or anyone else. She did not feelthat she could endure seeing anyone or talking to anyone again. She had no feeling of shame ordisappointment or bitterness now, only a weakness of the knees and a great emptiness of heart. Shesqueezed the clay so tightly it ran out from her clenched1 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 tothrow away like a torn handkerchief only a few minutes before, Now, it was dear to her again and she wondered dully what madness had possessed2 her to hold it so lightly. Had Ashley yielded, shecould have gone away with him and left family and friends without a backward look but, even inher emptiness, she knew it would have torn her heart to leave these dear red hills and long washedgullies and gaunt black pines. Her thoughts would have turned back to them hungrily until the dayshe died. Not even Ashley could have filled the empty spaces in her heart where Tara. had beenuprooted. How wise Ashley was and how well he knew her! He had only to press the damp earthinto 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 andturned to look down the driveway. To have visitors at this of all times was too much. She’d hurryto her room and plead a headache.

  But when the carriage came nearer, her flight was checked by her amazement3. It was a newcarriage, shiny with varnish4, and “the harness was new too, with bits of polished brass5 here andthere. Strangers, certainly. No one she knew had the money for such a grand new turn-out as this.

  She stood in the doorway6 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 sosurprised at the sight of their former overseer driving so fine a rig and in so splendid a greatcoatshe could not for a moment believe her eyes. Will had told her he looked quite prosperous since hegot his new job with the Freedmen’s Bureau. Made a lot of money, Will said, swindling the niggersor the government, one or tuther, or confiscating7 folks’ cotton and swearing it was Confederategovernment 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 dressedwithin an inch of her life. Scarlett saw in a glance that the dress was bright in color to the point ofvulgarity but nevertheless her eyes went over the outfit8 hungrily. It had been so long since she hadeven seen stylish9 new clothes. Well! So hoops10 aren’t so wide this year, she thought, scanning thered plaid gown. And, as she took in the black velvet11 paletot, how short jackets are! And what acunning hat! Bonnets13 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 stiffened14 pancake. The ribbons did not tie under thechin as bonnet12 ribbons tied but in the back under the massive bunch of curls which fell from therear of the hat, curls which Scarlett could not help noticing did not match the woman’s hair ineither color or texture15.

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

  “Why, it’s Emmie Slattery!” she cried, so surprised she spoke16 the words aloud.

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

  Emmie Slattery! The dirty tow-headed slut whose illegitimate baby Ellen had baptized, Emmiewho had given typhoid to Ellen and killed her. This overdressed, common, nasty piece of poorwhite trash was coming up the steps of Tara, bridling17 and grinning as if she belonged here. Scarlettthought of Ellen and, in a rush, feeling came back into the emptiness of her mind, a murderousrage so strong it shook her like the ague.

  “Get off those steps, you trashy wench!” she cried. “Get off this land! Get out!”

  Emmie’s jaw18 sagged19 suddenly and she glanced at Jonas who came up with lowering brows. Hemade an effort at dignity, despite his anger.

  “You must not speak that way to my wife,” he said.

  “Wife?” said Scarlett and burst into a laugh that was cutting with contempt. “High time youmade her your wife. Who baptized your other brats20 after you killed my mother?”

  Emmie said “Oh!” and retreated hastily down the steps but Jonas stopped her flight toward thecarriage with a rough grip on her arm.

  “We came out here to pay a call—a friendly call,” he snarled22. “And talk a little business with oldfriends—”

  “Friends?” Scarlett’s voice was like a whiplash. “When were we ever friends with the like ofyou? The Slatterys lived on our charity and paid it back by killing23 Mother—and you—you— Padischarged you about Emmie’s brat21 and you know it. Friends? Get off this place before I call Mr.

  Benteen and Mr. Wilkes.”

  Under the words, Emmie broke her husband’s hold and fled for the carriage, scrambling24 in witha flash of patent-leather boots with bright-red tops and red tassels25.

  Now Jonas shook with a fury equal to Scarlett’s and his sallow face was as red as an angryturkey gobbler’s.

  “Still high and mighty26, aren’t you? Well, I know all about you. I know you haven’t got shoes foryour feet. I know your father’s turned idiot—”

  “Get off this place!”

  “Oh, you won’t sing that way very long. I know you’re broke. I know you can’t even pay yourtaxes. I came out here to offer to buy this place from you—to make you a right good offer. Emmiehad a hankering to live here. But, by God, I won’t give you a cent now! You highflying, bog-trotting Irish will find out who’s running things around here when you get sold out for taxes. AndI’ll buy this place, lock, stock and barrel—furniture and all—and I’ll live in it.”

  So it was Jonas Wilkerson who wanted Tara—Jonas and Emmie, who in some twisted waythought to even past slights by living in the home where they had been slighted. All her nerveshummed with hate, as they had hummed that day when she shoved the pistol barrel into theYankee’s bearded face and fired. She wished she had that pistol now.

  “I’ll tear this house down, stone by stone, and burn it and sow every acre with salt before I seeeither of you put foot over this threshold,” she shouted. “Get out, I tell you! Get out!”

  Jonas glared at her, started to say more and then walked toward the carriage. He climbed inbeside his whimpering wife and turned the horse. As they drove off, Scarlett had the impulse tospit at them. She did spit. She knew it was a common, childish gesture but it made her feel better.

  She wished she had done it while they could see her.

  Those damned nigger lovers daring to come here and taunt27 her about her poverty! That houndnever intended offering her a price for Tara. He just used that as an excuse to come and flaunt28 himself and Emmie in her face. The dirty Scalawags, the lousy trashy poor whites, boasting theywould live at Tara!

  Then, sudden terror struck her and her rage melted. God’s nightgown! They will come and livehere! There was nothing she could do to keep them from buying Tara, nothing to keep them fromlevying on every mirror and table and bed, on Ellen’s shining mahogany and rosewood, and everybit of it precious to her, scarred though it was by the Yankee raiders. And the Robillard silver too. Iwon’t let them do it, thought Scarlett vehemently29. No, not if I’ve got to burn the place down!

  Emmie Slattery will never set her foot on a single bit of flooring Mother ever walked on!

  She closed the door and leaned against it and she was very frightened. More frightened eventhan she had been that day when Sherman’s army was in the house. That day the worst she couldfear was that Tara would be burned over her head. But this was worse—these low commoncreatures living in this house, bragging30 to their low common friends how they had turned the proudO’Haras out. Perhaps they’d even bring negroes here to dine and sleep. Will had told her Jonasmade a great to-do about being equal with the negroes, ate with them, visited in their houses, rodethem around with him in his carriage, put his arms around their shoulders.

  When she thought of the possibility of this final insult to Tara, her heart pounded so hard shecould scarcely breathe. She was trying to get her mind on her problem, trying to figure some wayout, but each time she collected her thoughts, fresh gusts31 of rage and fear shook her. There must besome way out, there must be someone somewhere who had money she could borrow. Moneycouldn’t just dry up and blow away. Somebody had to have money. Then the laughing words ofAshley came back to her:

  “Only one person, Rhett Butler … who has money.”

  Rhett Butler. She walked quickly into the parlor32 and shut the door behind her. The dim gloom ofdrawn blinds and winter twilight33 closed about her. No one would think of hunting for her here andshe wanted time to think, undisturbed. The idea which had just occurred to her was so simple shewondered why she had not thought of it before.

  “I’ll get the money from Rhett. I’ll sell him the diamond earbobs. Or I’ll borrow the money fromhim and let him keep the earbobs till I can pay him back.”

  For a moment, relief was so great she felt weak. She would pay the taxes and laugh in JonasWilkerson’s face. But close on this happy thought came relentless34 knowledge.

  “It’s not only for this year that I’ll need tax money. There’s next year and all the years of my life.

  If I pay up this time, they’ll raise the taxes higher next time till they drive me out. If I make a goodcotton crop, they’ll tax it till I’ll get nothing for it or maybe confiscate35 it outright36 and say it’sConfederate cotton. The Yankees and the scoundrels teamed up with them have got me where theywant me. All my life, as long as I live, I’ll be afraid they’ll get me somehow. All my life I’ll bescared and scrambling for money and working myself to death, only to see my work go for nothingand my cotton stolen. ... Just borrowing three hundred dollars for the taxes will be only a stopgap.

  What I want is to get out of this fix, for good—so I can go to sleep at night without worrying overwhat’s going to happen to me tomorrow, and next month, and next year.”

  Her mind ticked on steadily37. Coldly and logically an idea grew in her brain. She thought of Rhett, a flash of white teeth against swarthy skin, sardonic38 black eyes caressing39 her. She recalledthe hot night in Atlanta, close to the end of the siege, when he sat on Aunt Pitty’s porch half hiddenin the summer darkness, and she felt again the heat of his hand upon her arm as he said: “I wantyou more than I have ever wanted any woman—and I’ve waited longer for you than I’ve everwaited for any woman.”

  “I’ll marry him,” she thought coolly. “And then I’ll never have to bother about money again.”

  Oh, blessed thought, sweeter than hope of Heaven, never to worry about money again, to knowthat Tara was safe, that the family was fed and clothed, that she would never again have to bruiseherself against stone walls!

  She felt very old. The afternoon’s events had drained her of all feeling, first the startling newsabout the taxes, then Ashley and, last, her murderous rage at Jonas Wilkerson. Now there was noemotion left in her. If all her capacity to feel had not been utterly40 exhausted41, something in herwould have protested against the plan taking form in her mind, for she hated Rhett as she hated noother person in all the world. But she could not feel. She could only think and her thoughts werevery practical.

  “I said some terrible things to him that night when he deserted42 us on the road, but I can makehim forget them,” she thought contemptuously, still sure of her power to charm. “Butter won’t meltin my mouth when I’m around him. I’ll make him think I always loved him and was just upset andfrightened that night. Oh, men are so conceited43 they’ll believe anything that flatters them. ... I mustnever let him dream what straits we’re in, not till I’ve got him. Oh, he mustn’t know! If he evensuspected how poor we are, he’d know it was his money I wanted and not himself. After all, there’sno way he could know, for even Aunt Pitty doesn’t know the worst. And after I’ve married him,he’ll have to help us. He can’t let his wife’s people starve.” His wife. Mrs. Rhett Butler. Somethingof repulsion, buried deep beneath her cold thinking, stirred faintly and then was stilled. Sheremembered the embarrassing and disgusting events of her brief honeymoon44 with Charles, hisfumbling hands, his awkwardness, his incomprehensible emotions—and Wade45 Hampton.

  “I won’t think about it now. I’ll bother about it after I’ve married him. ...”

  After she had married him. Memory rang a bell. A chill went down her spine46. She rememberedagain that night on Aunt Pitty’s porch, remembered how she asked him if he was proposing to her,remembered how hatefully he had laughed and said: “My dear, I’m not a marrying man.”

  Suppose he was still not a marrying man. Suppose despite all her charms and wiles48, he refusedto marry her. Suppose—oh, terrible thought!—suppose he had completely forgotten about her andwas chasing after some other woman.

  “I want you more than I have ever wanted any woman. ...”

  Scarlett’s nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists. “If he’s forgotten me, I’ll make himremember me. I’ll make him want me again.”

  And, if he would not marry her but still wanted her, there was a way to get the money. After all,he had once asked her to be his mistress.

  In the dim grayness of the parlor she fought a quick decisive battle with the three most binding49 ties of her soul—the memory of Ellen, the teachings of her religion and her love for Ashley. Sheknew that what she had in her mind must be hideous50 to her mother even in that warm far-offHeaven where she surely was. She knew that fornication was a mortal sin. And she knew that,loving Ashley as she did, her plan was doubly prostitution.

  But all these things went down before the merciless coldness of her mind and the goad51 ofdesperation. Ellen was dead and perhaps death gave an understanding of all things. Religionforbade fornication on pain of hell fire but if the Church thought she was going to leave one stoneunturned in saving Tara and saving the family from starving—well, let the Church bother aboutthat. She wouldn’t. At least, not now. And Ashley—Ashley didn’t want her. Yes, he did want her.

  The memory of his warm mouth on hers told her that. But he would never take her away with him.

  Strange that going away with Ashley did not seem like a sin, but with Rhett—In the dull twilight of the winter afternoon she came to the end of the long road which had begunthe night Atlanta fell. She had set her feet upon that road a spoiled, selfish and untried girl, full ofyouth, warm of emotion, easily bewildered by life. Now, at the end of the road, there was nothingleft of that girl. Hunger and hard labor52, fear and constant strain, the terrors of war and the terrors ofReconstruction had taken away all warmth and youth and softness. About the core of her being, ashell of hardness had formed and, little by little, layer by layer, the shell had thickened during theendless months.

  But until this very day, two hopes had been left to sustain her. She had hoped that the war beingover, life would gradually resume its old face. She had hoped that Ashley’s return would bringback some meaning into life. Now both hopes were gone. The sight of Jonas Wilkerson in the frontwalk of Tara had made her realize that for her, for the whole South, the war would never end. Thebitterest fighting, the most brutal53 retaliations, were just beginning. And Ashley was imprisonedforever by words which were stronger than any jail.

  Peace had failed her and Ashley had failed her, both in the same day, and it was as if the lastcrevice in the shell had been sealed, the final layer hardened. She had become what GrandmaFontaine had counseled against, a woman who had seen the worst and so had nothing else to fear.

  Not life nor Mother nor loss of love nor public opinion. Only hunger and her nightmare dream ofhunger could make her afraid.

  A curious sense of lightness, of freedom, pervaded54 her now that she had finally hardened herheart against all that bound her to the old days and the old Scarlett. She had made her decision and,thank God, she wasn’t afraid. She had nothing to lose and her mind was made up.

  If she could only coax55 Rhett into marrying her, all would be perfect. But if she couldn’t—well,she’d get the money just the same. For a brief moment she wondered with impersonal56 curiositywhat would be expected of a mistress. Would Rhett insist on keeping her in Atlanta as people saidhe kept the Watling woman? If he made her stay in Atlanta, he’d have to pay well—pay enough tobalance what her absence from Tara would be worth. Scarlett was very ignorant of the hidden sideof men’s lives and had no way of knowing just what the arrangement might involve. And shewondered if she would have a baby. That would be distinctly terrible.

  “I won’t think of that now. I’ll think of it later,” and she pushed the unwelcome idea into theback of her mind lest it shake her resolution. She’d tell the family tonight she was going to Atlanta to borrow money, to try to mortgage the farm if necessary. That would be all they needed to knowuntil such an evil day when they might find out differently.

  With the thought of action, her head went up and her shoulders went back. This affair was notgoing to be easy, she knew. Formerly57, it had been Rhett who asked for her favors and she who heldthe power. Now she was the beggar and a beggar in no position to dictate58 terms.

  “But I won’t go to him like a beggar. I’ll go like a queen granting favors. He’ll never know.”

  She walked to the long pier59 glass and looked at herself, her head held high. And she saw framedin the cracking gilt60 molding a stranger. It was as if she were really seeing herself for the first timein a year. She had glanced in the mirror every morning to see that her face was clean and her hairtidy but she had always been too pressed by other things to really see herself. But this stranger!

  Surely this thin hollow-cheeked woman couldn’t be Scarlett O’Hara! Scarlett O’Hara had a pretty,coquettish, high-spirited face. This face at which she stared was not pretty at all and had none ofthe charm she remembered so well. It was white and strained and the black brows above slantinggreen eyes swooped61 up startlingly against the white skin like frightened bird’s wings. There was ahard and hunted look about this face.

  “I’m not pretty enough to get him!” she thought and desperation came back to her. “I’m thin—oh, I’m terribly thin!”

  She patted her cheeks, felt frantically62 at her collar bones, feeling them stand out through herbasque. And her breasts were so small, almost as small as Melanie’s. She’d have to put ruffles63 inher bosom64 to make them look larger and she had always had contempt for girls who resorted tosuch subterfuges65. Ruffles! That brought up another thought. Her clothes. She looked down at herdress, spreading its mended folds wide between her hands. Rhett liked women who were welldressed, fashionably dressed. She remembered with longing66 the flounced green dress she had wornwhen she first came out of mourning, the dress she wore with the green plumed67 bonnet he hadbrought her and she recalled the approving compliments he had paid her. She remembered, too,with hate sharpened by envy the red plaid dress, the red-topped boots with tassels and the pancakehat of Emmie Slattery. They were gaudy68 but they were new and fashionable and certainly theycaught the eye. And, oh, how she wanted to catch the eye! Especially the eye of Rhett Butler! If heshould see her in her old clothes, he’d know everything was wrong at Tara. And he must not know.

  What a fool she had been to think she could go to Atlanta and have him for the asking, she withher scrawny neck and hungry cat eyes and raggedy dress! If she hadn’t been able to pry71 a proposalfrom him at the height of her beauty, when she had her prettiest clothes, how could she expect toget one now when she was ugly and dressed tackily? If Miss Pitty’s story was true, he must havemore money than anyone in Atlanta and probably had his pick of all the pretty ladies, good andbad. Well, she thought grimly, I’ve got something that most pretty ladies haven’t got—and that’s amind that’s made up. And if I had just’ one nice dress—There wasn’t a nice dress in Tara or a dress which hadn’t been turned twice and mended.

  “That’s that,” she thought, disconsolately72 looking down at the floor. She saw Ellen’s moss-greenvelvet carpet, now worn and scuffed73 and torn and spotted74 from the numberless men who had sleptupon it, and the sight depressed75 her more, for it made her realize that Tara was just as ragged70 as she. The whole darkening room depressed her and, going to the window, she raised the sash,unlatched the shutters76 and let the last light of the wintry sunset into the room. She closed thewindow and leaned her head against the velvet curtains and looked out across the bleak77 pasturetoward the dark cedars78 of the burying ground.

  The moss-green velvet curtains felt prickly and soft beneath her cheek and she rubbed her faceagainst them gratefully, like a cat And then suddenly she looked at them.

  A minute later, she was dragging a heavy marble-topped table across the floor. Its rusty79 castorsscreeching in protest. She rolled the table under the window, gathered up her skirts, climbed on itand tiptoed to reach the heavy curtain pole. It was almost out of her reach and she jerked at it soimpatiently the nails came out of the wood, and the curtains, pole and all, fell to the floor with aclatter.

  As if by magic, the door of the parlor opened and the wide black face of Mammy appeared,ardent curiosity and deepest suspicion evident in every wrinkle. She looked disapprovingly80 atScarlett, poised81 on the table top, her skirts above her knees, ready to leap to the floor. There was alook of excitement and triumph on her face which brought sudden distrust to Mammy.

  “Whut you up to wid Miss Ellen’s po’teers?” she demanded.

  “What are you up to listening outside doors?” asked Scarlett, leaping nimbly to the floor andgathering up a length of the heavy dusty velvet.

  “Dat ain’ needer hyah no dar,” countered Mammy, girding herself for combat “You ain’ got nobizness wid Miss Ellen’s po’teers, juckin’ de poles plum outer de wood, an’ drappin’ dem on deflo’ in de dust. Miss Ellen set gret sto’ by dem po’teers an’ Ah ain’ ‘tendin’ ter have you muss demup dat way.”

  Scarlett turned green eyes on Mammy, eyes which were feverishly82 gay, eyes which looked likethe bad little girl of the good old days Mammy sighed about.

  “Scoot up to the attic83 and get my box of dress patterns, Mammy,” she cried, giving her a slightshove. “I’m going to have a new dress.”

  Mammy was torn between indignation at the very idea of her two hundred pounds scootinganywhere, much less to the attic, and the dawning of a horrid84 suspicion. Quickly she snatched thecurtain lengths from Scarlett, holding them against her monumental, sagging85 breasts as if theywere holy relics86.

  “Not outer Miss Ellen’s po’teers is you gwine have a new dress, ef dat’s whut you figgerin’ on.

  Not wile47 Ah got breaf in mah body.”

  For a moment the expression Mammy was won’t to describe to herself as “bullheaded” flittedover her young mistress’ face and then it passed into a smile, so difficult for Mammy to resist. Butit did not fool the old woman. She knew Miss Scarlett was employing that smile merely to getaround her and in this matter she was determined87 not to be gotten around.

  “Mammy, don’t be mean. I’m going to Atlanta to borrow some money and I’ve got to have anew dress.”

  “You doan need no new dress. Ain’ no other ladies got new dresses. Dey weahs dey ole ones an’ dey weahs dem proudfully. Ain’ no reason why Miss Ellen’s chile kain weah rags ef she wants ter,an’ eve’ybody respec’ her lak she wo’ silk.”

  The bullheaded expression began to creep back. Lordy, ‘twus right funny how de older MissScarlett git de mo’ she look lak Mist’ Gerald and de less lak Miss Ellen!

  “Now, Mammy, you know Aunt Pitty wrote us that Miss Fanny Elsing is getting married thisSaturday, and of course I’ll go to the wedding. And I’ll need a new dress to wear.”

  “De dress you got on’ll be jes’ as nice as Miss Fanny’s weddin’ dress. Miss Pitty done wrote datde Elsings mighty po’.”

  “But I’ve got to have a new dress! Mammy, you don’t know how we need money. The taxes—”

  “Yas’m, Ah knows all ‘bout de taxes but—”

  “You do?”

  “Well’m, Gawd give me ears, din’ he, an’ ter hear wid? Specially69 w’en Mist’ Will doan never tektrouble ter close de do’.”

  Was there nothing Mammy did not overhear? Scarlett wondered how that ponderous88 body whichshook the floors could move with such savage89 stealth when its owner wished to eavesdrop90.

  “Well, if you heard all that, I suppose you heard Jonas Wilkerson and that Emmie—”

  “Yas’m,” said Mammy with smoldering91 eyes.

  “Well, don’t be a mule92, Mammy. Don’t you see I’ve got to go to Atlanta and get money for thetaxes? I’ve got to get some money. I’ve got to do it!” She hammered one small fist into the other.

  “Name of God, Mammy, they’ll turn us all out into the road and then where’ll we go? Are yougoing to argue with me about a little matter of Mother’s curtains when that trash Emmie Slatterywho killed Mother is fixing to move into this house and sleep in the bed Mother slept in?”

  Mammy shifted from one foot to another like a restive93 elephant. She had a dim feeling that shewas being got around.

  “No’m, Ah ain’ wantin’ ter see trash in Miss Ellen’s house or us all in de road but—” She fixedScarlett with a suddenly accusing eye: “Who is you fixin’ ter git money frum dat you needs a newdress?”

  “That,” said Scarlett, taken aback, “is my own business.”

  Mammy looked at her piercingly, just as she had done when Scarlett was small and had triedunsuccessfully to palm off plausible94 excuses for misdeeds. She seemed to be reading her mind andScarlett dropped her eyes unwillingly95, the first feeling of guilt96 at her intended conduct creepingover her.

  “So you needs a spang new pretty dress ter borry money wid. Dat doan lissen jes’ right ter me.

  An’ you ain’ sayin’ whar de money ter come frum.”

  “I’m not saying anything,” said Scarlett indignantly. “It’s my own business. Are you going togive me that curtain and help me make the dress?”

  “Yas’m,” said Mammy softly, capitulating with a suddenness which aroused all the suspicion in Scarlett’s mind. “Ah gwine he’p you mek it an’ Ah specs we mout git a petticoat outer de satinlinin’ of de po’teers an’ trim a pa’r pantalets wid de lace cuttins.”

  She handed the velvet curtain back to Scarlett and a sly smile spread over her face.

  “Miss Melly gwine ter ‘Lanta wid you, Miss Scarlett?”

  “No,” said Scarlett sharply, beginning to realize what was coming. “I’m going by myself.”

  “Dat’s whut you thinks,” said Mammy firmly, “but Ah is gwine wid you an’ dat new dress. Yas,Ma’m, eve’y step of de way.”

  For an instant Scarlett envisaged97 her trip to Atlanta and her conversation with Rhett withMammy glowering98 chaperonage like a large black Cerberus in the background. She smiled againand put a hand on Mammy’s arm.

  “Mammy darling, you’re sweet to want to go with me and help me, but how on earth would thefolks here get on without you? You know you just about run Tara.”

  “Huh!” said Mammy. “Doan do no good ter sweet talk me, Miss Scarlett. Ah been knowin’ yousence Ah put de fust pa’r of diapers on you. Ah’s said Ah’s gwine ter ‘Lanta wid you an’ gwine Ahis. Miss Ellen be tuhnin’ in her grabe at you gwine up dar by yo’seff wid dat town full up widYankees an’ free niggers an’ sech like.”

  “But I’ll be at Aunt Pittypat’s,” Scarlett offered frantically.

  “Miss Pittypat a fine woman an’ she think she see eve’ything but she doan,” said Mammy, andturning with the majestic99 air of having closed the interview, she went into the hall. The boardstrembled as she called:

  “Prissy, child! Fly up de stairs an’ fotch Miss Scarlett’s pattun box frum de attic an’ try an’ finede scissors without takin’ all night ‘bout it.”

  “This is a fine mess,” thought Scarlett dejectedly. “I’d as soon have a bloodhound after me.”

  After supper had been cleared away, Scarlett and Mammy spread patterns on the dining-roomtable while Suellen and Carreen busily ripped satin linings100 from curtains and Melanie brushed thevelvet with a clean hairbrush to remove the dust. Gerald, Will and Ashley sat about the roomsmoking, smiling at the feminine tumult101. A feeling of pleasurable excitement which seemed toemanate from Scarlett was on them all, an excitement they could not understand. There was colorin Scarlett’s face and a bright hard glitter in her eyes and she laughed a good deal. Her laughterpleased them all, for it had been months since they had heard her really laugh. Especially did itplease Gerald. His eyes were less vague than-usual as they followed her swishing figure about theroom and he patted her approvingly whenever she was within reach. The girls were as excited as ifpreparing for a ball and they ripped and cut and basted102 as if making a ball dress of their own.

  Scarlett was going to Atlanta to borrow money or to mortgage Tara if necessary. But what was amortgage, after all? Scarlett said they could easily pay it off out of next year’s cotton and havemoney left over, and she said it with such finality they did not think to question. And when theyasked who was going to lend the money she said: “Layovers catch meddlers,” so archly they alllaughed and teased her about her millionaire friend.

  “It must be Captain Rhett Butler,” said Melanie slyly and they exploded with mirth at thisabsurdity, knowing how Scarlett hated him and never failed to refer to him as “that skunk103, RhettButler.”

  But Scarlett did not laugh at this and Ashley, who had laughed, stopped abruptly104 as he sawMammy shoot a quick, guarded glance at Scarlett.

  Suellen, moved to generosity105 by the party spirit of the occasion, produced her Irish-lace collar,somewhat worn but still pretty, and Carreen insisted that Scarlett wear her slippers106 to Atlanta, forthey were in better condition than any others at Tara. Melanie begged Mammy to leave her enoughvelvet scraps108 to recover the frame of her battered109 bonnet and brought shouts of laughter when shesaid the old rooster was going to part with his gorgeous bronze and green-black tail feathers unlesshe took to the swamp immediately.

  Scarlett, watching the flying fingers, heard the laughter and looked at them all with concealedbitterness and contempt.

  “They haven’t an idea what is really happening to me or to themselves or to the South. They stillthink, in spite of everything, that nothing really dreadful can happen to any of them because theyare who they are, O’Haras, Wilkeses, Hamiltons. Even the darkies feel that way. Oh, they’re allfools! They’ll never realize! They’ll go right on thinking and living as they always have, andnothing will change them. Melly can dress in rags and pick cotton and even help me murder a manbut it doesn’t change her. She’s still the shy well-bred Mrs. Wilkes, the perfect lady! And Ashleycan see death and war and be wounded and lie in jail and come home to less than nothing and stillbe the same gentleman he was when he had all Twelve Oaks behind him. Will is different. Heknows how things really are but then Will never had anything much to lose. And as for Suellen andCarreen—they think all this is just a temporary matter. They don’t change to meet changed conditionsbecause they think it’ll all be over soon. They think God is going to work a miracle especiallyfor their benefit. But He won’t. The only miracle that’s going to be worked around here is the oneI’m going to work on Rhett Butler. ... They won’t change. Maybe they can’t change. I’m the onlyone who’s changed—and I wouldn’t have changed if I could have helped it.”

  Mammy finally turned the men out of the dining room and closed the door, so the fitting couldbegin. Pork helped Gerald upstairs to bed and Ashley and Will were left alone in the lamplight inthe front hall. They were silent for a while and Will chewed his tobacco like a placid110 ruminantanimal. But his mild face was far from placid.

  “This goin’ to Atlanta,” he said at last in a slow voice, “I don’t like it. Not one bit.”

  Ashley looked at Will quickly and then looked away, saying nothing but wondering if Will hadthe same awful suspicion which was haunting him. But that was impossible. Will didn’t know whathad taken place in the orchard111 that afternoon and how it had driven Scarlett to desperation. Willcouldn’t have noticed Mammy’s face when Rhett Butler’s name was mentioned and, besides, Willdidn’t know about Rhett’s money or his foul112 reputation. At least, Ashley did not think he couldknow these things, but since coming back to Tara he had realized that Will, like Mammy, seemedto know things without being told, to sense them before they happened. There was somethingominous in the air, exactly what Ashley did nut know, but he was powerless to save Scarlett fromit. She had not met his eyes once that evening and the hard bright gaiety with which she had treated him was frightening. The suspicions which tore at him were too terrible to be put intowords. He did not have the right to insult her by asking her if they were true. He clenched his fists.

  He had no rights at all where she was concerned; this afternoon he had forfeited113 them all, forever.

  He could not help her. No one could help her. But when he thought of Mammy and the look ofgrim determination she wore as she cut into the velvet curtains, he was cheered a little. Mammywould take care of Scarlett whether Scarlett wished it or not.

  “I have caused all this,” he thought despairingly. “I have driven her to this.”

  He remembered the way she had squared her shoulders when she turned away from him thatafternoon, remembered the stubborn lift of her head. His heart went out to her, torn with his ownhelplessness, wrenched114 with admiration115. He knew she had no such word in her vocabulary asgallantry, knew she would have stared blankly if he had told her she was the most gallant116 soul hehad ever known. He knew she would not understand how many truly fine things he ascribed to herwhen he thought of her as gallant He knew that she took life as it came, opposed her tough-fiberedmind to whatever obstacles there might be, fought with a determination that would not recognize defeat, and kept on fighting even when she saw d(on) efeat was inevitable117.

  But, for four years, he had seen others who had refused to recognize defeat, men who rode gailyinto sure disaster because they were gallant And they had been defeated, just the same.

  He thought as he stared at Will in the shadowy hall that he had never known such gallantry asthe gallantry of Scarlett O’Hara going forth107 to conquer the world in her mother’s velvet curtainsand the tail feathers of a rooster.

  思嘉走上屋前的台阶时,她手里还抓着那团红泥。她小心翼翼地避免走后门,因为嬷嬷眼尖,一定会看出她做了什么大不该的事。她不想看见嬷嬷或任何别的人,她觉得她再也没有勇气同别人见面或交谈了。她没有什么难为情、失望或痛苦的感觉,只觉得两腿发软,心里空虚到了极点。她用力捏紧那团泥土,捏得从拳头缝里挤出泥来,同时她一次又一次像鹦鹉学舌似地说:“我还有这个呢。是的,我还有这个。"她已没有什么别的东西了;除了这块土地,除了这块她刚才几分钟前还想将它像块破手帕似的遗弃的土地,她什么也没有了。现在,这土地又显得可爱起来,她暗暗诧异,不知是一股什么疯劲儿支使她,竟会把这块土地看得一钱不值了。要是艾希礼让步,她这时肯定已经和他一起离开这里,义无反顾地丢下家庭和朋友,不过,即使在内心空虚时她也明白,要丢下这些可爱的红色山冈和久经冲洗的沟渠,以及黑黝黝的枯瘦松林,那是多么令人揪心的事。她的心思一定会如饥似渴地回到它们身边来,直到她临终那一天为止。即使是艾希礼也难以填补她心中因塔拉被挖走而留下的空白。艾希礼是多么聪明又多么清楚地了解她呀!他只要把一团湿土塞到她手里,她头脑马上就清醒了。
  她正在穿堂里准备关门,这时她听到了马蹄声,便转过身去看马车道上的动静。万一在这个时候有客人来,那就讨厌了。她得赶快回自己房里去推说头疼。
  但是马车驶近时,她大为惊讶,便不再逃跑了。那是一辆新马车,擦得铮亮,鞍辔也是新的,还镶着许多闪光的铜片。这无疑是生客。凡是她认识的人当中没有一个能买得起这样显赫而簇新的装备。
  她站在门道里看着。冷风吹动着她的衣裙,在她那双湿脚周围飕飕地刮着。这时马车在屋前停下,乔纳斯·威尔克森跳下车来。思嘉看见他们家这位监工居然坐上了这么漂亮的马车,穿上了这么精致的大衣,不觉大吃一惊,几乎不相信自己的眼睛。威尔告诉过她,自从他在"自由人局"谋到新的差使以来,他显得很阔绰,敲诈黑人或政府,或者没收人们的棉花,硬说那是联邦政府的。因此赚了许多钱,毫无疑问,这些钱决不是他在这样的艰难岁月里能正当挣来的。
  如今就是这个威尔克森,从那辆漂亮的马车上下来,然后又搀扶一个穿着打扮与她身份相称的妇人下了车。思嘉一眼便觉得那衣服颜色亮得刺眼,庸俗到了极点,不过她还是很有兴趣地从头到脚打量了一番。很久以来,对于时髦的衣着她甚至连看的机会也没有了。嗯!今年不怎么兴宽阔的裙箍了,她心里想,同时打量着那件红色花纹的长衣。还有,合拢那个黑鹅绒宽外套后,你便知道当今的外套有多短了。多小巧的帽子!无边帽准是过时了。因这顶带檐帽戴在妇女头顶上像个硬邦邦的大饼。帽带不是像软帽那样系在下巴底下,而是系在背后那束高高的发卷下面,发鬈从帽子后边往下垂着,使得思嘉不能不特别注意,但帽子无论在颜色或质地上都与这个女人的头发不相配。
  那女人下了马车后,一双眼睛立即朝房子望去。思嘉发现她扑满了白粉的兔儿脸上有些似曾相识的东西。
  “呀,原来是埃米·斯莱特里!"她嚷道,因为十分惊异,不觉提高了嗓门。
  “是的,是我!"埃米说,含一丝傲慢的微笑扬起头来,开始走上台阶。
  埃米·斯莱特里!这个狡猾的荡妇,爱伦给她的婴儿施过洗礼,可她却把伤寒症传染给爱伦,送了她的命。这个浓妆艳抹、粗俗而肮脏的白人渣滓,如今正昂首阔步、得意洋洋地走上塔拉的台阶,仿佛她就是这里的人了。思嘉想起爱伦来,感觉又突如起来地回到她那空虚的心田,一股暴怒像疟疾似的震憾着她。
  “滚下台阶,你这贱货!"她大声喝道。"从这里滚开!滚开!"埃米的颚骨顿时垂下来,她看看乔纳斯,只见他正皱着眉头往上走。他尽管很生气,但仍竭力保持威严。
  “不许你用这种态度对我妻子说话,"他说。
  “妻子?"思嘉不禁轻蔑地笑起来,这大大刺伤了对方。
  “你早该讨她做老婆了。你害死我母亲以后,是谁替你后来的孩子们施洗礼的啊?"埃米"啊!"了一声便连忙转身下台阶,但乔纳斯一把拉住她的胳臂,不让她向马车那边逃跑。
  “我们是来拜访的----友好的拜访嘛,"他竭力嚷道,"想同老朋友谈一桩小事情----”“朋友?"思嘉的声音厉害得像抽了一鞭子。"我们什么时候跟你们这样下贱的人交过朋友?斯莱特里家当初靠我们的施舍过活。后来却以害死我母亲当作回报----而你----你----我爸因为你跟埃米养了私生子才把你开除了,这一点你很清楚。这是朋友吗?赶快从这里滚开吧,免得我把本廷先生和威尔克斯先生叫来。"听到这里,埃米便挣脱了丈夫的手向马车逃去,拖着那双带有雪亮的红鞋帮和红流苏的小靴爬上马车。
  这时乔纳斯也跟思嘉一样气得浑身发抖,他那张松驰的胖脸涨得发紫,活像一只愤怒的土耳其火鸡。
  “你以为现在还是有权有势?可是,我对你一清二楚。我知道你连双鞋也没有,打赤脚了。我知道你父亲已经成了白痴----"“从这里给我滚开!"“哼,我看你这腔调也叫不了多久了。我知道,你已经完蛋了。你连税金也付不起。我到这儿来是想买你的这个地方----给你出个公道的价钱。埃米巴望住在这里。可现在,说实话,我连一分钱也不给你了!你们这些住惯了沼泽地、自以为了不起的爱尔兰人,等你们因为交不起税金被赶走的时候,便会明白现在在这里掌权的究竟是些什么人了。到了那个时候,我要买下这块地方,通通买下来----连家具及所有的一切----那时我要住在这里。"原来,一心想要夺走塔拉的人就是乔纳斯·威尔克森—-乔纳斯和埃米,他们用迂回的手法极力要搬进曾经使他们蒙受侮辱的住所,以达到报复的目的。思嘉的全部神经充满了仇恨,就像那天她把枪筒对准那个长满络腮胡的北方佬面孔开火时似的。她恨不得此刻手里还握着那支枪呢。
  “不等你们的脚迈进门槛,我就要把这所房子一块石头一块石头地拆掉,把它烧光,然后遍地撒上盐。"她高声喊道。
  “我叫你滚出去!给我滚开!”
  乔纳斯恶狠狠地瞪着她。想继续说下去,但随即向马车走去。他爬进马车,坐在那个正在抽泣的新娘身边,然后掉转马头。他们走时,思嘉还真想啐他们一口。她真的啐了,她明知这是一种粗俗的孩子气的举动,但却因此觉得心里舒畅多了。她巴不得他们还看得见这一举动。
  那些该死的黑人同情者竟敢跑到这里来当面奚落她的贫穷!那个卑鄙的家伙根本就不想给塔拉出什么价钱。他只不过以此为借口到思嘉面前炫耀自己和埃米罢了。那些厚颜无耻的提包党人,浑身长满虱子的穷白人,还吹牛要住到塔拉来呢。
  可是,她突然害怕起来,这时怒气全消了。该死的!他们想住到这里来呢!她竟毫无办法能阻止他们购买塔拉,毫无办法阻止他们扣押每一面镜子,每一张桌子和床,扣押爱伦的桃花心木家具,以及每一件尽管已经被北方佬暴徒弄坏但对她却仍然十分珍贵的东西。还有那些罗毕拉德家的银器。我决不让他们得逞,思嘉忿忿地想。不,即使我不得不把这地方烧毁!埃米·斯莱特里永远也休想踏上任何一小块母亲曾经走动过的地方!
  她关起门来,将背靠在门上,但仍然感到非常害怕,甚至比谢尔曼的军队住进这所房子里的那天还怕得厉害得多。
  那天她最感到害怕的是塔拉可能会不由她分说硬被烧掉。可这次更糟----这些卑劣的家伙将住在这所房子里向他们的狐朋狗党大肆吹嘘他们如何把骄傲的奥哈拉家赶出去了。说不定他们还会把黑人带到这里吃饭睡觉。威尔告诉过她,乔纳斯曾煞有介事地让黑人与他平起平坐,同他们一起吃喝,到他们家去拜访,让他们坐他的马车同他一起兜风,还一路抱着他们的肩膀亲热呢。
  她一想到塔拉有可能遭到这样最后一次侮辱,心怦怦乱跳得几乎要透不过起来了。她竭力镇静下来考虑眼前的问题,设想一条出路,但她每次集中思考时,总有一股新的愤怒与恐惧的激情震撼她。出路一定会有的,有钱人总是有的。一定会有人能借钱给她。不可能恰好这时候钱都用光了,或者吹走了。于是艾希礼开玩笑的话又回到她的耳边:“只有一个人,瑞德·巴特勒……他有钱。"瑞德·巴特勒。她匆忙走进客厅,随手把门关上。从百叶窗透进来的幽暗的微光和冬天的暮色把她紧紧地包围着。
  谁也不会想起要到这里打扰她,而她正需要时间来安静地想一想。刚才脑子里闪出的那个念头原来这样简单,她不明白以前为什么她竟没有想到过。
  “我要从巴特勒那里弄到钱。我要把钻石耳环卖给他,要不就向他借钱,用耳环作抵押,将来有了钱再还给他。"这时候,她觉得大大放松了,结果反而显得虚弱起来。她将交纳税金,并在乔纳斯·威尔克森面前放声大笑。可是紧跟着这个愉快的念头,出现了严酷的事实。
  “我不光是今年要交纳税金,还有明年和我今后一生中的每一年呢。要是我这次交了,他们下次定会将税额提得更高,直到把我赶走为止。如果我的棉田得一次丰收,他们就抽它的税,到头来叫我一无所得,或者干脆将棉花没收,说它是联邦政府的。北方佬和那帮追随他们的恶棍已经把我带到他们所需要的地步了。只要我还活着,便一辈子都得担心他们会把我抓祝我得一辈子担惊受吓,拼命挣钱,直到累死为止,眼看着自己的劳动一无所获,棉花被人家抢走了事……就说借三百美元来交税款,这也只能救当务之急。我所需要的是永远脱出这个圈套,好让我每晚安心睡觉,用不着为明天、下个月、乃至明年将要发生的事情操心。“她继续这样思索着。有个念头冷静而自然地在她的脑子里形成了。她想起瑞德,想起他那在黝黑皮肤衬托下闪光的雪白牙齿,以及那双一直在抚慰她的黑眼睛。她记起亚特兰大被围困的最后阶段那个十分炎热的夜晚,那时他坐在皮蒂姑妈的一半为夏天的朦胧月色所掩蔽的走廊上,她感觉到他那只炙热的手又握住了她的胳膊,他一面说:“我想要你超过以前想过以前想要的任何一个女人----我对你比对任何一个女人都等待得更久了。"“我要跟他结婚,"她冷静地想道。"到那时,我就再也用不着为钱操心了。"多么美好的念头啊,比登天的希望还可爱呢,永远也不必再为钱操心,相信塔拉永远平安无事,而且全家不愁吃穿,她自己也无需再在石壁上碰得鼻青脸肿了!
  她觉得自己很老了。下午的几件事已耗尽了她的全部感情,最初是那个关于税金的惊人消息,然后是艾希礼,最后是她对乔纳斯·威尔克森的一场暴怒。现在,她已没有什么感情了。如果说她的感觉能力还没有完全枯竭,那么她身上一定会有某种力量起来反对她头脑中正在形成的那个计划,因为这世界上没有第二个像瑞德那样叫她憎恨了。但是她已经没有感情作用。她只能思考,而她的思想是非常实际的。
  “那天晚上当他在路上把我们甩掉的时候,我对他说过些可怕的话,不过我可以让他忘掉,”她这样毫不在意地想着,显然相信自己依旧是迷人的。"只要我在他身旁,巴特勒还是不好轻易消受的。我要叫他感到我曾经一直爱他,而且那天晚上不过是心烦意乱又十分害怕而已。唔,男人总是自命不凡的,只要你恭维他,说什么他也相信……我决不能让巴特勒意识到我们当前处于怎样的困境,要先征服他再说。嗯,决不能让他知道!即使他怀疑我们已经穷了,他也得知道我所需要的是钱而不是他这个人。反正他无法知道,因为连皮蒂姑妈也不了解真实情况呢。而等到我同他结婚以后,他便不得不帮助我们了。他总不能让自己妻子家的人饿肚子呀。"他的妻子。瑞德·巴特勒夫人。在她的静静思考之下潜藏着的某种带着反感的意识隐约动了动,但很快就平静了。她想起她同查尔斯度过的那个矩暂密月中的令人厌恶的情景,他那摸索的双手,他那笨拙劲儿,他那不可思议的激情----以及韦德·汉普顿。
  “现在不去想它。等同他结了婚再去动这个脑筋吧……"等到同他结了婚以后,记忆摇动了警铃。一股冷冰冰的感觉从她的脊椎直往下流。她再一次记起在皮蒂姑妈家的走廊上那个夜晚,记起她怎样询问他是否在向她求婚,记起他又是怎样恶狠狠地笑起来,并且说:”亲爱的,我是不打算结婚的呀!"也许他是不打算结婚。也许,尽管她那样迷人和狡黠,他还是拒绝娶她。也许----啊,多可怕的想法!----也许他完全把她忘了,并且正在追逐别的女人。
  “我想要你超过以前我想要的任何一个女人……"思嘉紧紧地握着拳头,几乎把指甲插到手心肉里去了。
  “如果他把我忘掉了,我也要叫他记起来。我要叫他再一次想要我。"而且,如果他不想娶她而只是仍然想要她,那也有办法拿到钱的。毕竟,他曾经有一次要求她当他的情妇嘛。
  她在客厅暗淡的光线中竭力要同那三条最能束缚她灵魂的绳子进行一次迅速的决战----那就是对爱伦的思念、她的宗教信条,以及对艾希礼的爱,她知道自己心中的主意对于她那位即使远在温暖天国(她一定在那里)的母亲来说也必然是丑恶的。她知道私通是一种莫大的犯罪。她也知道,像她现在这样爱着艾希礼,她的计策更是双重的卖淫。
  但所有这些在她心里头无情的冷酷和绝望的驱策面前都让步了。爱伦已经死了,而死亡或许会赋予人们理解一切的能力。宗教用地狱之火来胁迫,禁止私通,可是只要教会想想她是在不遗余力挽救塔拉,使它安然无恙,同时挽救她一家免于饥饿----那么,如果教会还要懊恼就让它懊恼去吧。她自己才不懊恼呢。至少现在还不。而且艾希礼----艾希礼并不要她呀。是的,他是要她的。她每回想起他吻她的嘴唇时那种温馨的感觉,便相信这一点。但是他永远了不会把她带走。真奇,怎么想跟艾希礼逃走就好像不是犯罪似的,而一跟瑞德----在这个冬天傍晚的苍苍暮色中,她来到了从亚特兰大沦陷之夜开端的那条漫漫长路的尽头。当初踏上这条路时,她还是个娇惯了的、自私自利而不谙世故的少女,浑身的青春活力,满怀热忱,很容易为生活所迷惑。如今,走到了这条长路的尽头,那个少女在她身上已经无影无踪了。饥饿和劳累,恐惧和紧张,战争和恐怖,早已带走了她的全部温暖、青春和柔情。在她生命的内核周围已经形成一层硬壳,而且,随着无尽的岁月,这支硬壳已经一点一点、一层一层地变得很厚了。
  然而,直到今天为止,还两个希望在支撑着她。她一直希望战争结束后生活会逐渐恢复它的本来面目。她一直希望艾希礼的归来会给生活带回某种意义。如今这两个希望都已成了泡影。而乔纳斯·威尔克森在塔拉前面走道上的出现更使她明白了,原来对于她,对于整个南方来说,战争是永远不会结束的。最激烈的战斗,最残酷的报复,还刚刚开始呢。
  而且艾希礼已经被自己的话永远禁锢起来,这是比牢房还要坚固的呀。
  和平令她失望了,艾希礼令她失望了,两者都在同一天发生,这仿佛那层硬壳上的最后一丝缝隙已被堵上。最后一层皮已经硬化了。她已经成为方丹老太太曾劝她不要做的那种人,即成为一个饱经艰险因而敢做敢为的妇女。无论是生活或者母亲,或者爱情的丧失,或者社会舆论,一概不在乎了。只有饥饿和饥饿的梦魇才是她觉得可怕。
  她一经横下心来反对那些将她捆缚在旧时代和旧的思嘉的一切,这时她便感到浑身轻松自在了。她已经作出决定,并且托上帝的福一点也不害怕了。她已经没有什么可以丧失的了,她的决心已经下定。
  只要她能够诱惑瑞德跟她结婚,便一切称心如意了。可是万一----他办不到呢----那也没有什么,她同样会拿到那笔钱。她有那么一会儿竟怀着自然的好奇心想起当情妇会是什么样的滋味。瑞德会不会要她留在亚特兰大,就像人们说的他把沃特琳那个女人养在那里一样呢?如果他叫她留在亚特兰大那就得付钱----付出足够的钱来补偿因她离开塔拉而受到的损失。思嘉对于男人生活中的隐秘一面毫无所知,也无法去了解这种安排可能涉及到的问题。她还说不准要不要有个孩子。那可毫不含糊是活受罪呀。
  “我现在不去想它,以后再去想吧,"就这样她把这个令人心烦的念头抛到脑后,免得动摇自己的决心。今晚她就告诉家人,她要到亚特兰大去借钱,必要时设法用农场作抵押。
  他们只需要知道这一点就行。等到以后他们发现根本不是那么回事时,那就活该了。
  一想到行动,她就昂头挺胸起来。她清楚,这桩事不会是轻而易举的。上一次,那是瑞德在讨好她,而她自己是掌权人。可如今她成了乞丐,是个无权提出条件的乞丐了。
  “可是我决不像乞丐去求他。我要像个施恩的王后那样到他那里去。他万万不会知道的。
  她来到那块高高的壁前,昂起头端详自己。她看见带有裂纹的镀金镜框里站着一个陌生人。仿佛一年来她真是第一次看见自己。实际上她每天早晨都照镜子,看自己的脸是否干净,头发是否整齐,不过她每次因为有别的事情压在心上,很少真正端详自己,可是这个陌生人呀!这个脸颊瘦削的女人不可能就是思嘉呀,思嘉有着一个漂亮的迷人的、容光焕发的脸蛋呀!可是她看见的这张脸一点不漂亮,也丝毫没有她清楚记得的那种魅力了。这是张苍白憔粹的脸,而且那双向上斜挑着的绿眼睛上方的黑眉毛,在苍白皮肤的衬托下,也像受惊鸟儿的双翅那样突然扬起,给人以骇异的感觉。她脸上呈现出一种艰辛而窘迫的神态。她想:“我的容貌已引诱不了他。"于是又有了绝望的心情。"我消瘦了----消瘦得多么可怕啊!”她拍拍自己的脸蛋,又急切地摸摸锁骨,觉得它们已经从紧身上衣里矗出来了,而她的乳房已那么干瘪,几乎跟媚兰的一样小了。看来她已不得不在胸部塞些棉絮什么的,使乳房显得丰满些才行,可她一贯瞧不起搞这种假名堂的女孩子的呀。假乳房嘛!这叫她想起另外一件事来。她的衣着。她低头看看自己的衣裙,把补过的衣褶摊在手里看着。瑞德喜欢女人穿着好,穿得时髦。她怀着期待的心情想起她服丧后第一次出门时穿的那件有荷叶边的绿衣裳和他带来的那顶羽毛装饰的绿色帽子,这些得到了他的连声赞赏。她还怀着羡慕甚至忌妒的心情想起埃米·斯莱特里那件红格衣服,那双带穗的红靴子和那顶煎饼式的宽边帽。这些东西都很俗气,但是又新又时髦,准能惹人注意。而现在,瞧,她多么需要惹人注意啊!尤其是瑞德·巴特勒的注意!要是他看见她穿着旧衣服,他便会明白在塔拉什么都不行了。可是万万不能让他明白呀。
  她竟然以为凭着她这又细又瘦的脖子,馋猫般的眼睛,破旧的衣着,就可以到亚特兰大去按自己的需要拿住人家,这是多么愚蠢的想法啊!要是她在自己最美、穿着漂亮的时候还没能赢得他向她求爱,那么如今邋邋遢遢,她怎么还敢存这种希望呢?如果皮蒂姑妈讲故事属实,那他会是亚特兰大最有钱的人,并且很可能对那里所有的漂亮女人,好的坏的都挑拣过了。好吧,她泄气地想,我只具有大多数漂亮女人所没有的东西,那就是下定了决心。不过,要是我有一件漂亮衣服----在塔拉可没有什么漂亮衣服,甚至连一件没有翻改两次的衣服也没有。
  “就这样吧,"她心里嘀咕着,失望地俯视着地板。她看见爱伦的苔绿色天鹅绒地毯,它已经很旧,有的地方磨坏了,撕破了,而且由于无数人在上面睡过而留下了许多污渍,何况思嘉看见便明白塔拉也像这地毯一样破旧不堪,更加觉得丧。整个那间愈来愈暗的房子都令她沮丧,这时她走到窗前,举起窗棂,打开百叶窗,将冬日傍晚最后的光线放进房里。她关好窗户,把头倚在天鹅绒窗帘上,两眼越过荒凉的田野向墓地上的苍苍柏树林望去。
  那苔绿色的窗帘使她脸颊上有一种刺痒而柔软的感觉,她欣慰地把脸贴在上面轻轻摩擦。忽然她像一只猫似的瞪着眼睛呆呆地看着它。
  几分种后,她将那张沉重的大理石面桌上从对面拉过来。
  桌腿下面生锈的脚轮像抗议似的吱吱作响。她把桌子推到窗下,将裙子扎起来,爬到桌上,踮起脚尖去抓那笨重的窗帘杆。但是,那杆子挂得太高,她很难够得着,只得耐心地一次又一次跳起来去抓它,好不容易才把铁钉从木框上拉出来,窗帘和杆子一起掉下来,哗啦一声落在地板上。
  仿佛施了魔法似的,那扇客厅的门忽地开了,嬷嬷那张宽大的黑脸随即出现在门口,几乎每道皱纹都流露出热切的好奇和深深的疑惑。她很不以为然地看着思嘉,后者正站在桌上,撩起裙子,露出膝盖,准备跳下地来。她脸上浮出激动和胜利的神色,嬷嬷马上怀疑起来。
  “你动爱伦小姐的窗帘干什么?"嬷嬷问。
  “你站在门外偷听?"思嘉反问道,一面轻捷地跳下地来,然后将这块因年久尘封而越发沉重的天鹅绒叠好。
  “根本用不着在门外偷听,"嬷嬷反驳她,一面双手叉腰,准备干仗了。"爱伦小姐的窗帘碍你什么了,犯得着你把杆子也拔出来,一古脑儿拽下来。爱伦小姐生前那么爱惜这些帘子,我可不让你这样糟踏!"恩嘉用忌妒的目光盯着嬷嬷,这双热切而愉快的眼睛使人想起从前幸福年月里那个顽劣的小姑娘,对于那些年月,嬷嬷如今只有惋叹了。
  “嬷嬷,快到阁楼上去把我那只装衣服样子的箱子取下来。"她喊着,轻轻推了她一把。"我要做一件新衣裳。"嬷嬷一面想着要她这二百磅的笨重身躯爬上爬下十分恼怒,一面又恐惧地感到有什么可怕的一事要发生了。她连忙把几块窗帘从思嘉手里一把抢过来,紧紧抱着压在她那对下垂的乳房上,仿佛那神圣不可侵犯的遗物。
  “你不能用爱伦小姐的窗帘来作新衣服,要是你居然打这个主意的话,只要我还有一口气,你就休想。"一瞬间,


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 clenched clenched     
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
  • She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上,以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
3 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
4 varnish ni3w7     
n.清漆;v.上清漆;粉饰
参考例句:
  • He tried to varnish over the facts,but it was useless.他想粉饰事实,但那是徒劳的。
  • He applied varnish to the table.他给那张桌子涂上清漆。
5 brass DWbzI     
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器
参考例句:
  • Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
  • Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
6 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
7 confiscating 47cc2d3927999f90a74354110e4aca8d     
没收(confiscate的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • There was Mame by my side confiscating my intellects and attention. 有玛米坐在我身边,害得我心不在焉。
  • Intimidate book sellers by confiscating books deemed unfavourable to the Barisan government. 充公被视为对国阵不利的书籍,威胁书商。
8 outfit YJTxC     
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装
参考例句:
  • Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
  • His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。
9 stylish 7tNwG     
adj.流行的,时髦的;漂亮的,气派的
参考例句:
  • He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
  • What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。
10 hoops 528662bd801600a928e199785550b059     
n.箍( hoop的名词复数 );(篮球)篮圈;(旧时儿童玩的)大环子;(两端埋在地里的)小铁弓
参考例句:
  • a barrel bound with iron hoops 用铁箍箍紧的桶
  • Hoops in Paris were wider this season and skirts were shorter. 在巴黎,这个季节的裙圈比较宽大,裙裾却短一些。 来自飘(部分)
11 velvet 5gqyO     
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的
参考例句:
  • This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
  • The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
12 bonnet AtSzQ     
n.无边女帽;童帽
参考例句:
  • The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光,使之不刺眼。
  • She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽,帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
13 bonnets 8e4529b6df6e389494d272b2f3ae0ead     
n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 );(烟囱等的)覆盖物;(苏格兰男子的)无边呢帽;(女子戴的)任何一种帽子
参考例句:
  • All the best bonnets of the city were there. 城里戴最漂亮的无边女帽的妇女全都到场了。 来自辞典例句
  • I am tempting you with bonnets and bangles and leading you into a pit. 我是在用帽子和镯子引诱你,引你上钩。 来自飘(部分)
14 stiffened de9de455736b69d3f33bb134bba74f63     
加强的
参考例句:
  • He leaned towards her and she stiffened at this invasion of her personal space. 他向她俯过身去,这种侵犯她个人空间的举动让她绷紧了身子。
  • She stiffened with fear. 她吓呆了。
15 texture kpmwQ     
n.(织物)质地;(材料)构造;结构;肌理
参考例句:
  • We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
  • Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。
16 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
17 bridling a7b16199fc3c7bb470d10403db2646e0     
给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 ); 控制; 昂首表示轻蔑(或怨忿等); 动怒,生气
参考例句:
  • Suellen, bridling, always asked news of Mr. Kennedy. 苏伦也克制着经常探询肯尼迪先生的情况。
  • We noticed sever al men loitering about the bridling last night. 昨天夜里我们看到有几个人在楼附近荡来荡去。
18 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。
19 sagged 4efd2c4ac7fe572508b0252e448a38d0     
下垂的
参考例句:
  • The black reticule sagged under the weight of shapeless objects. 黑色的拎包由于装了各种形状的东西而中间下陷。
  • He sagged wearily back in his chair. 他疲倦地瘫坐到椅子上。
20 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
21 brat asPzx     
n.孩子;顽童
参考例句:
  • He's a spoilt brat.他是一个被宠坏了的调皮孩子。
  • The brat sicked his dog on the passer-by.那个顽童纵狗去咬过路人。
22 snarled ti3zMA     
v.(指狗)吠,嗥叫, (人)咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 );咆哮着说,厉声地说
参考例句:
  • The dog snarled at us. 狗朝我们低声吼叫。
  • As I advanced towards the dog, It'snarled and struck at me. 我朝那条狗走去时,它狂吠着向我扑来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财
参考例句:
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
24 scrambling cfea7454c3a8813b07de2178a1025138     
v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞
参考例句:
  • Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发,冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 tassels a9e64ad39d545bfcfdae60b76be7b35f     
n.穗( tassel的名词复数 );流苏状物;(植物的)穗;玉蜀黍的穗状雄花v.抽穗, (玉米)长穗须( tassel的第三人称单数 );使抽穗, (为了使作物茁壮生长)摘去穗状雄花;用流苏装饰
参考例句:
  • Tassels and Trimmings, Pillows, Wall Hangings, Table Runners, Bell. 采购产品垂饰,枕头,壁挂,表亚军,钟。 来自互联网
  • Cotton Fabrics, Embroidery and Embroiders, Silk, Silk Fabric, Pillows, Tassels and Trimmings. 采购产品棉花织物,刺绣品而且刺绣,丝,丝织物,枕头,流行和装饰品。 来自互联网
26 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
27 taunt nIJzj     
n.辱骂,嘲弄;v.嘲弄
参考例句:
  • He became a taunt to his neighbours.他成了邻居们嘲讽的对象。
  • Why do the other children taunt him with having red hair?为什么别的小孩子讥笑他有红头发?
28 flaunt 0gAz7     
vt.夸耀,夸饰
参考例句:
  • His behavior was an outrageous flaunt.他的行为是一种无耻的炫耀。
  • Why would you flaunt that on a public forum?为什么你们会在公共论坛大肆炫耀?
29 vehemently vehemently     
adv. 热烈地
参考例句:
  • He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈,以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
  • Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。
30 bragging 4a422247fd139463c12f66057bbcffdf     
v.自夸,吹嘘( brag的现在分词 );大话
参考例句:
  • He's always bragging about his prowess as a cricketer. 他总是吹嘘自己板球水平高超。 来自辞典例句
  • Now you're bragging, darling. You know you don't need to brag. 这就是夸口,亲爱的。你明知道你不必吹。 来自辞典例句
31 gusts 656c664e0ecfa47560efde859556ddfa     
一阵强风( gust的名词复数 ); (怒、笑等的)爆发; (感情的)迸发; 发作
参考例句:
  • Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
  • Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。
32 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?
33 twilight gKizf     
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期
参考例句:
  • Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
  • Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。
34 relentless VBjzv     
adj.残酷的,不留情的,无怜悯心的
参考例句:
  • The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
  • Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。
35 confiscate 8pizd     
v.没收(私人财产),把…充公
参考例句:
  • The police have the right to confiscate any forbidden objects they find.如发现违禁货物,警方有权查扣。
  • Did the teacher confiscate your toy?老师没收你的玩具了吗?
36 outright Qj7yY     
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的
参考例句:
  • If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事,你应该直率地对我说。
  • You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。
37 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
38 sardonic jYyxL     
adj.嘲笑的,冷笑的,讥讽的
参考例句:
  • She gave him a sardonic smile.她朝他讥讽地笑了一笑。
  • There was a sardonic expression on her face.她脸上有一种嘲讽的表情。
39 caressing 00dd0b56b758fda4fac8b5d136d391f3     
爱抚的,表现爱情的,亲切的
参考例句:
  • The spring wind is gentle and caressing. 春风和畅。
  • He sat silent still caressing Tartar, who slobbered with exceeding affection. 他不声不响地坐在那里,不断抚摸着鞑靼,它由于获得超常的爱抚而不淌口水。
40 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。
41 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
42 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
43 conceited Cv0zxi     
adj.自负的,骄傲自满的
参考例句:
  • He could not bear that they should be so conceited.他们这样自高自大他受不了。
  • I'm not as conceited as so many people seem to think.我不像很多人认为的那么自负。
44 honeymoon ucnxc     
n.蜜月(假期);vi.度蜜月
参考例句:
  • While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
  • The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。
45 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。
46 spine lFQzT     
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊
参考例句:
  • He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
  • His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。
47 wile PgcwT     
v.诡计,引诱;n.欺骗,欺诈
参考例句:
  • The music wiled him from his study.诱人的音乐使他无心学习下去。
  • The sunshine wiled me from my work.阳光引诱我放下了工作。
48 wiles 9e4z1U     
n.(旨在欺骗或吸引人的)诡计,花招;欺骗,欺诈( wile的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • All her wiles were to persuade them to buy the goods. 她花言巧语想打动他们买这些货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The woman used all her wiles to tempt him into following her. 那女人用尽了自己的诱骗本领勾引着他尾随而去。 来自《用法词典》
49 binding 2yEzWb     
有约束力的,有效的,应遵守的
参考例句:
  • The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
  • Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。
50 hideous 65KyC     
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的
参考例句:
  • The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
  • They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗,是丑陋的畜牲。
51 goad wezzh     
n.刺棒,刺痛物;激励;vt.激励,刺激
参考例句:
  • The opposition is trying to goad the government into calling an election.在野反对党正努力激起政府提出选举。
  • The writer said he needed some goad because he was indolent.这个作家说他需要刺激,因为他很懒惰。
52 labor P9Tzs     
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
参考例句:
  • We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
  • He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后,他已经疲惫不堪了。
53 brutal bSFyb     
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的
参考例句:
  • She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
  • They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼,骨子里却是野蛮残忍。
54 pervaded cf99c400da205fe52f352ac5c1317c13     
v.遍及,弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • A retrospective influence pervaded the whole performance. 怀旧的影响弥漫了整个演出。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The air is pervaded by a smell [smoking]. 空气中弥散着一种气味[烟味]。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
55 coax Fqmz5     
v.哄诱,劝诱,用诱哄得到,诱取
参考例句:
  • I had to coax the information out of him.我得用好话套出他掌握的情况。
  • He tried to coax the secret from me.他试图哄骗我说出秘方。
56 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。
57 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。
58 dictate fvGxN     
v.口授;(使)听写;指令,指示,命令
参考例句:
  • It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
  • What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令?
59 pier U22zk     
n.码头;桥墩,桥柱;[建]窗间壁,支柱
参考例句:
  • The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害,专家担心它已不能负重。
  • The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。
60 gilt p6UyB     
adj.镀金的;n.金边证券
参考例句:
  • The plates have a gilt edge.这些盘子的边是镀金的。
  • The rest of the money is invested in gilt.其余的钱投资于金边证券。
61 swooped 33b84cab2ba3813062b6e35dccf6ee5b     
俯冲,猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The aircraft swooped down over the buildings. 飞机俯冲到那些建筑物上方。
  • The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it. 鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
62 frantically ui9xL     
ad.发狂地, 发疯地
参考例句:
  • He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。
  • She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。
63 ruffles 1b1aebf8d10c4fbd1fd40ac2983c3a32     
褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • You will need 12 yards of ribbon facing for the ruffles. 你将需要12码丝带为衣服镶边之用。
  • It is impossible to live without some daily ruffles to our composure. 我们日常的平静生活免不了会遇到一些波折。
64 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。
65 subterfuges 2accc2c1c79d01029ad981f598f7b5f6     
n.(用说谎或欺骗以逃脱责备、困难等的)花招,遁词( subterfuge的名词复数 )
参考例句:
66 longing 98bzd     
n.(for)渴望
参考例句:
  • Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
  • His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
67 plumed 160f544b3765f7a5765fdd45504f15fb     
饰有羽毛的
参考例句:
  • The knight plumed his helmet with brilliant red feathers. 骑士用鲜红的羽毛装饰他的头盔。
  • The eagle plumed its wing. 这只鹰整理它的翅膀。
68 gaudy QfmzN     
adj.华而不实的;俗丽的
参考例句:
  • She was tricked out in gaudy dress.她穿得华丽而俗气。
  • The gaudy butterfly is sure that the flowers owe thanks to him.浮华的蝴蝶却相信花是应该向它道谢的。
69 specially Hviwq     
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地
参考例句:
  • They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
  • The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。
70 ragged KC0y8     
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
参考例句:
  • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
  • Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
71 pry yBqyX     
vi.窥(刺)探,打听;vt.撬动(开,起)
参考例句:
  • He's always ready to pry into other people's business.他总爱探听别人的事。
  • We use an iron bar to pry open the box.我们用铁棍撬开箱子。
72 disconsolately f041141d86c7fb7a4a4b4c23954d68d8     
adv.悲伤地,愁闷地;哭丧着脸
参考例句:
  • A dilapidated house stands disconsolately amid the rubbles. 一栋破旧的房子凄凉地耸立在断垣残壁中。 来自辞典例句
  • \"I suppose you have to have some friends before you can get in,'she added, disconsolately. “我看得先有些朋友才能进这一行,\"她闷闷不乐地加了一句。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
73 scuffed 6f08ab429a81544fbc47a95f5c147e74     
v.使磨损( scuff的过去式和过去分词 );拖着脚走
参考例句:
  • I scuffed the heel of my shoe on the stonework. 我的鞋跟儿给铺好的石头磨坏了。
  • Polly dropped her head and scuffed her feet. 波莉低下头拖着脚走开了。 来自辞典例句
74 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
75 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
参考例句:
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
76 shutters 74d48a88b636ca064333022eb3458e1f     
百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 ); (照相机的)快门
参考例句:
  • The shop-front is fitted with rolling shutters. 那商店的店门装有卷门。
  • The shutters thumped the wall in the wind. 在风中百叶窗砰砰地碰在墙上。
77 bleak gtWz5     
adj.(天气)阴冷的;凄凉的;暗淡的
参考例句:
  • They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
  • The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。
78 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。
79 rusty hYlxq     
adj.生锈的;锈色的;荒废了的
参考例句:
  • The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
  • I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用,我的法语又荒疏了。
80 disapprovingly 6500b8d388ebb4d1b87ab0bd19005179     
adv.不以为然地,不赞成地,非难地
参考例句:
  • When I suggested a drink, she coughed disapprovingly. 我提议喝一杯时,她咳了一下表示反对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He shook his head disapprovingly. 他摇了摇头,表示不赞成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
81 poised SlhzBU     
a.摆好姿势不动的
参考例句:
  • The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋,准备俯冲。
  • Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张,手悬在电话机上。
82 feverishly 5ac95dc6539beaf41c678cd0fa6f89c7     
adv. 兴奋地
参考例句:
  • Feverishly he collected his data. 他拼命收集资料。
  • The company is having to cast around feverishly for ways to cut its costs. 公司迫切须要想出各种降低成本的办法。
83 attic Hv4zZ     
n.顶楼,屋顶室
参考例句:
  • Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
  • What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理?
84 horrid arozZj     
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的
参考例句:
  • I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
  • The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃,她咽不下去。
85 sagging 2cd7acc35feffadbb3241d569f4364b2     
下垂[沉,陷],松垂,垂度
参考例句:
  • The morale of the enemy troops is continuously sagging. 敌军的士气不断低落。
  • We are sagging south. 我们的船正离开航线向南漂流。
86 relics UkMzSr     
[pl.]n.遗物,遗迹,遗产;遗体,尸骸
参考例句:
  • The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
  • Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。
87 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。
88 ponderous pOCxR     
adj.沉重的,笨重的,(文章)冗长的
参考例句:
  • His steps were heavy and ponderous.他的步伐沉重缓慢。
  • It was easy to underestimate him because of his occasionally ponderous manner.由于他偶尔现出的沉闷的姿态,很容易使人小看了他。
89 savage ECxzR     
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人
参考例句:
  • The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
  • He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
90 eavesdrop lrPxS     
v.偷听,倾听
参考例句:
  • He ensconced himself in the closet in order to eavesdrop.他藏在壁橱里,以便偷听。
  • It is not polite to eavesdrop on the conversation of other people.偷听他人说话是很不礼貌的。
91 smoldering e8630fc937f347478071b5257ae5f3a3     
v.用文火焖烧,熏烧,慢燃( smolder的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The mat was smoldering where the burning log had fallen. 燃烧的木棒落下的地方垫子慢慢燃烧起来。 来自辞典例句
  • The wood was smoldering in the fireplace. 木柴在壁炉中闷烧。 来自辞典例句
92 mule G6RzI     
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人
参考例句:
  • A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
  • He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。
93 restive LWQx4     
adj.不安宁的,不安静的
参考例句:
  • The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
  • The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。
94 plausible hBCyy     
adj.似真实的,似乎有理的,似乎可信的
参考例句:
  • His story sounded plausible.他说的那番话似乎是真实的。
  • Her story sounded perfectly plausible.她的说辞听起来言之有理。
95 unwillingly wjjwC     
adv.不情愿地
参考例句:
  • He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。
  • Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访,他也是很不情愿地接待我。
96 guilt 9e6xr     
n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责
参考例句:
  • She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
  • Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。
97 envisaged 40d5ad82152f6e596b8f8c766f0778db     
想像,设想( envisage的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He envisaged an old age of loneliness and poverty. 他面对着一个孤独而贫困的晚年。
  • Henry Ford envisaged an important future for the motor car. 亨利·福特为汽车设想了一个远大前程。
98 glowering glowering     
v.怒视( glower的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The boy would not go, but stood at the door glowering at his father. 那男孩不肯走,他站在门口对他父亲怒目而视。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Then he withdrew to a corner and sat glowering at his wife. 然后他溜到一个角落外,坐在那怒视着他的妻子。 来自辞典例句
99 majestic GAZxK     
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的
参考例句:
  • In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
  • He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。
100 linings 08af65d71fb90cd42b87d2d9b97c874f     
n.衬里( lining的名词复数 );里子;衬料;组织
参考例句:
  • a pair of leather gloves with fur linings 一双毛皮衬里的皮手套
  • Many of the garments have the customers' name tags sewn into the linings. 这些衣服有很多内衬上缝有顾客的姓名签。 来自辞典例句
101 tumult LKrzm     
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹
参考例句:
  • The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
  • His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。
102 basted 87bfdf6905a5c84b5ebdaa0ff333f45a     
v.打( baste的过去式和过去分词 );粗缝;痛斥;(烤肉等时)往上抹[浇]油
参考例句:
  • The turkey is basted to keep it from drying out. 烤火鸡时润以油脂以免烤干。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Meat is basted to keep it from drying out and to improve its flavour. 烤肉时润以脂油使不致烤焦并可增加香味。 来自《简明英汉词典》
103 skunk xERzE     
n.臭鼬,黄鼠狼;v.使惨败,使得零分;烂醉如泥
参考例句:
  • That was a rotten thing to do, you skunk!那种事做得太缺德了,你这卑鄙的家伙!
  • The skunk gives off an unpleasant smell when attacked.受到攻击时臭鼬会发出一种难闻的气味。
104 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。
105 generosity Jf8zS     
n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为
参考例句:
  • We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
  • We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。
106 slippers oiPzHV     
n. 拖鞋
参考例句:
  • a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
  • He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋,倒在床上。
107 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。
108 scraps 737e4017931b7285cdd1fa3eb9dd77a3     
油渣
参考例句:
  • Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
  • A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。
109 battered NyezEM     
adj.磨损的;v.连续猛击;磨损
参考例句:
  • He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
  • The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。
110 placid 7A1yV     
adj.安静的,平和的
参考例句:
  • He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
  • You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。
111 orchard UJzxu     
n.果园,果园里的全部果树,(美俚)棒球场
参考例句:
  • My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
  • Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。
112 foul Sfnzy     
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规
参考例句:
  • Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
  • What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气!
113 forfeited 61f3953f8f253a0175a1f25530295885     
(因违反协议、犯规、受罚等)丧失,失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Because he broke the rules, he forfeited his winnings. 他犯规,所以丧失了奖金。
  • He has forfeited the right to be the leader of this nation. 他丧失了作为这个国家领导的权利。
114 wrenched c171af0af094a9c29fad8d3390564401     
v.(猛力地)扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 );扭伤;使感到痛苦;使悲痛
参考例句:
  • The bag was wrenched from her grasp. 那只包从她紧握的手里被夺了出来。
  • He wrenched the book from her hands. 他从她的手中把书拧抢了过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
115 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
116 gallant 66Myb     
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的
参考例句:
  • Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
  • These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。
117 inevitable 5xcyq     
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的
参考例句:
  • Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
  • The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。


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