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Chapter 45
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THAT NIGHT when Frank deposited her and Aunt Pitty and the children at Melanie’s and rodeoff down the street with Ashley, Scarlett could have burst with rage and hurt. How could he go offto a political meeting on this of all nights in the world? A political meeting! And on the same nightwhen she had been attacked, when anything might have happened to her! It was unfeeling andselfish of him. But then, he had taken the whole affair with maddening calm, ever since Sam hadcarried her sobbing1 into the house, her basque gaping2 to the waist. He hadn’t clawed his beardeven once when she cried out her story. He had just questioned gently: “Sugar, are you hurt—orjust scared?”

  Wrath3 mingling4 with her tears she had been unable to answer and Sam had volunteered that shewas just scared.

  “Ah got dar fo’ dey done mo’n t’ar her dress.”

  “You’re a good boy, Sam, and I won’t forget what you’ve done. If there’s anything I can do foryou—”

  “Yassah, you kin5 sen’ me ter Tara, quick as you kin. De Yankees is affer me.”

  Frank had listened to this statement calmly too, and had asked no questions. He had looked verymuch as he did the night Tony came beating on their door, as though this was an exclusivelymasculine affair and one to be handled with a minimum of words and emotions.

  “You go get in the buggy. I’ll have Peter drive you as far as Rough and Ready tonight and youcan hide in the woods till morning and then catch the train to Jonesboro. It’ll be safer. ... Now,Sugar, stop crying. It’s all over now and you aren’t really hurt. Miss Pitty, could I have yoursmelling salts? And Mammy, fetch Miss Scarlett a glass of wine.”

  Scarlett had burst into renewed tears, this time tears of rage. She wanted comforting,indignation, threats of vengeance6. She would even have preferred him storming at her, saying thatthis was just what he had warned her would happen—anything rather than have him take it all socasually and treat her danger as a matter of small moment. He was nice and gentle, of course, butin an absent way as if he had something far more important on his mind.

  And that important thing had turned out to be a small political meeting!

  She could hardly believe her ears when he told her to change her dress and get ready for him toescort her over to Melanie’s for the evening. He must know how harrowing her experience hadbeen, must know she did not want to spend an evening at Melanie’s when her tired body andjangled nerves cried out for the warm relaxation7 of bed and blankets—with a hot brick to make hertoes tingle8 and a hot toddy to soothe9 her fears. If he really loved her, nothing could have forced him from her side on this of all nights. He would have stayed home and held her hand and told herover and over that he would have died if anything had happened to her. And when he came hometonight and she had him alone, she would certainly tell him so.

  Melanie’s small parlor10 looked as serene11 as it usually did on nights when Frank and Ashley wereaway and the women gathered together to sew. The room was warm and cheerful in the firelight.

  The lamp on the table shed a quiet yellow glow on the four smooth heads bent12 to their needlework.

  Four skirts billowed modestly, eight small feet were daintily placed on low hassocks. The quietbreathing of Wade13, Ella and Beau came through the open door of the nursery. Archie sat on a stoolby the hearth14, his back against the fireplace, his cheek distended15 with tobacco, whittlingindustriously on a bit of wood. The contrast between the dirty, hairy old man and the four neat,fastidious ladies was as great as though he were a grizzled, vicious old watchdog and they foursmall kittens.

  Melanie’s soft voice, tinged17 with indignation, went on and on as she told of the recent outburstof temperament18 on the part of the Lady Harpists. Unable to agree with the Gentlemen’s Glee Clubas to the program for their next recital19, the ladies had waited on Melanie that afternoon andannounced their intention of withdrawing completely from the Musical Circle. It had taken all ofMelanie’s diplomacy20 to persuade them to defer21 their decision.

  Scarlett, overwrought, could have screamed: “Oh, damn the Lady Harpists!” She wanted to talkabout her dreadful experience. She was bursting to relate it in detail, so she could ease her ownfright by frightening the others. She wanted to tell how brave she had been, just to assure herselfby the sound of her own words that she had, indeed, been brave. But every time she brought up thesubject, Melanie deftly22 steered23 the conversation into other and innocuous channels. This irritatedScarlett almost beyond endurance. They were as mean as Frank.

  How could they be so calm and placid24 when she had just escaped so terrible a fate? Theyweren’t even displaying common courtesy in denying her the relief of talking about it.

  The events of the afternoon had shaken her more than she cared to admit, even to herself. Everytime she thought of that malignant26 black face peering at her from the shadows of the twilight27 forestroad, she fell to trembling. When she thought of the black hand at her bosom28 and what would havehappened if Big Sam had not appeared, she bent her head lower and squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

  The longer she sat silent in the peaceful room, trying to sew, listening to Melanie’s voice, thetighter her nerves stretched. She felt that at any moment she would actually hear them break withthe same pinging sound a banjo string makes when it snaps.

  Archie’s whittling16 annoyed her and she frowned at him. Suddenly it seemed odd that he shouldbe sitting there occupying himself with a piece of wood. Usually he lay flat on the sofa, during theevenings when he was on guard, and slept and snored so violently that his long beard leaped intothe air with each rumbling29 breath. It was odder still that neither Melanie nor India hinted to himthat he should spread a paper on the floor to catch his litter of shavings. He had already made aperfect mess on the hearth rug but they did not seem to have noticed it.

  While she watched him, Archie turned suddenly toward the fire and spat30 a stream of tobaccojuice on it with such vehemence31 that India, Melanie and Pitty leaped as though a bomb hadexploded.

  “Need you expectorate so loudly?” cried India in a voice that cracked with nervous annoyance32.

  Scarlett looked at her in surprise for India was always so self-contained.

  Archie gave her look for look.

  “I reckon I do,” he answered coldly and spat again. Melanie gave a little frowning glance atIndia.

  “I was always so glad dear Papa didn’t chew,” began Pitty, and Melanie, her frown creasingdeeper, swung on her and spoke33 sharper words than Scarlett had ever heard her speak.

  “Oh, do hush34, Auntie! You’re so tactless.”

  “Oh, dear!” Pitty dropped her sewing in her lap and her mouth pressed up in hurt. “I declare, Idon’t know What ails35 you all tonight You and India are just as jumpy and cross as two old sticks.”

  No one answered her. Melanie did not even apologize for her crossness but went back to hersewing with small violence.

  “You’re taking stitches an inch long,” declared Pitty with some satisfaction. “You’ll have to takeevery one of them out. What’s the matter with you?”

  But Melanie still did not answer.

  Was there anything the matter with them, Scarlett wondered? Had she been too absorbed withher own fears to notice? Yes, despite Melanie’s attempts to make the evening appear like any oneof fifty they had all spent together, there was a difference due to their alarm and shock at what hadhappened that afternoon. Scarlett stole glances at her companions and intercepted36 a look from India.

  It discomforted her because it was a long, measuring glance that carried in its cold depthssomething stronger than hate, something more insulting than contempt.

  “As though she thought I was to blame for what happened,” Scarlett thought indignantly.

  India turned from her to Archie and, all annoyance at him gone from her face, gave him a lookof veiled anxious inquiry37. But he did not meet her eyes. He did however look at Scarlett, staring ather in the same cold hard way India had done.

  Silence fell dully in the room as Melanie did not take up the conversation again and, in thesilence, Scarlett heard the rising wind outside. It suddenly began to be a most unpleasant evening.

  Now she began to feel the tension in the air and she wondered if it had been present all during theevening—and she too upset to notice it. About Archie’s face there was an alert waiting look and histufted, hairy old ears seemed pricked38 up like a lynx’s. There was a severely39 repressed uneasinessabout Melanie and India that made them raise their heads from their sewing at each sound ofhooves in the road, at each groan40 of bare branches under the wailing41 wind, at each scuffing42 soundof dry leaves tumbling across the lawn. They started at each soft snap of burning logs on the hearthas if they were stealthy footsteps.

  Something was wrong and Scarlett wondered what it was. Something was afoot and she did notknow about it. A glance at Aunt Pitty’s plump guileless face, screwed up in a pout43, told her that theold lady was as ignorant as she. But Archie and Melanie and India knew. In the silence she couldalmost feel the thoughts of India and Melanie whirling as madly as squirrels in a cage. They knewsomething, were waiting for something, despite their efforts to make things appear as usual. And their inner unease communicated itself to Scarlett, making her more nervous than before. Handlingher needle awkwardly, she jabbed it into her thumb and with a little scream of pain and annoyancethat made them all jump, she squeezed it until a bright red drop appeared.

  “I’m just too nervous to sew,” she declared, throwing her mending to the floor. “I’m nervousenough to scream. I want to go home and go to bed. And Frank knew it and he oughtn’t to havegone out. He talks, talks, talks about protecting women against darkies and Carpetbaggers andwhen the time comes for him to do some protecting, where is he? At home, taking care of me? No,indeed, he’s gallivanting around with a lot of other men who don’t do anything but talk and—”

  Her snapping eyes came to rest on India’s face and she paused. India was breathing fast and herpale lashless44 eyes were fastened on Scarlett’s face with a deadly coldness.

  “If it won’t pain you too much, India,” she broke off sarcastically45, “I’d be much obliged if you’dtell me why you’ve been staring at me all evening. Has my face turned green or something?”

  “It won’t pain me to tell you. I’ll do it with pleasure,” said India and her eyes glittered. “I hate tosee you underrate a fine man like Mr. Kennedy when, if you knew—”

  “India!” said Melanie warningly, her hands clenching46 on her sewing.

  “I think I know my husband better than you do,” said Scarlett, the prospect47 of a quarrel, the firstopen quarrel she had ever had with India, making her spirits rise and her nervousness depart.

  Melanie’s eyes caught India’s and reluctantly India closed her lips. But almost instantly she spokeagain and her voice was cold with hate.

  “You make me sick, Scarlett O’Hara, talking about being protected! You don’t care about beingprotected! If you did you’d never have exposed yourself as you have done all these months,prissing yourself about this town, showing yourself off to strange men, hoping they’ll admire you!

  What happened to you this afternoon was just what you deserved and if there was any justiceyou’d have gotten worse.”

  “Oh, India, hush!” cried Melanie.

  “Let her talk,” cried Scarlett “I’m enjoying it. I always knew she hated me and she was toomuch of a hypocrite to admit it. If she thought anyone would admire her, she’d be walking thestreets naked from dawn till dark.”

  India was on her feet her lean body quivering with insult.

  “I do hate you,” she said in a clear but trembling voice. “But it hasn’t been hypocrisy48 that’s keptquiet It’s something you can’t understand, not possessing any—any common courtesy,com(me) mon good breeding. It’s the realization49 that if all of us don’t hang together and submerge ourown small hates, we can’t expect to beat the Yankees. But you—you—you’ve done all you couldto lower the prestige of decent people—working and bringing shame on a good husband, givingYankees and riffraff the right to laugh at us and make insulting remarks about our lack of gentility.

  Yankees don’t know that you aren’t one of us and have never been. Yankees haven’t sense enoughto know that you haven’t any gentility. And when you’ve ridden about the woods exposingyourself to attack, you’ve exposed every well-behaved woman in town to attack by puttingtemptation in the ways of darkies and mean white trash. And you’ve put our men folks’ lives in danger because they’ve got to—”

  “My God, India!” cried Melanie and even in her wrath, Scarlett was stunned50 to hear Melanietake the Lord’s name in vain. “You must hush! She doesn’t know and she—you must hush! Youpromised—”

  “Oh, girls!” pleaded Miss Pittypat, her lips trembling.

  “What don’t I know?” Scarlett was on her feet, furious, facing the coldly blazing India and theimploring Melanie.

  “Guinea hens,” said Archie suddenly and his voice was contemptuous. Before anyone couldrebuke him, his grizzled head went up sharply and he rose swiftly. “Somebody comin’ up the walk.

  ‘Tain’t Mr. Wilkes neither. Cease your cackle.”

  There was male authority in his voice and the women stood suddenly silent anger fading swiftlyfrom their faces as he stumped52 across the room to the door.

  “Who’s thar?” he questioned before the caller even knocked.

  “Captain Butler. Let me in.”

  Melanie was across the floor so swiftly that her hoops53 swayed up violently, revealing herpantalets to the knees, and before Archie could put his hand on the knob she flung the door open.

  Rhett Butler stood in the doorway54, his black slouch hat low over his eyes, the wild wind whippinghis cape25 about him in snapping folds. For once his good manners had deserted55 him. He neithertook off his hat nor spoke to the others in the room. He had eyes for no one but Melanie and hespoke abruptly56 without greeting.

  “Where have they gone? Tell me quickly. It’s life or death.”

  Scarlett and Pitty, startled and bewildered, looked at each other in wonderment and, like a leanold cat, India streaked57 across the room to Melanie’s side.

  “Don’t tell him anything,” she cried swiftly. “He’s a spy, a Scalawag!”

  Rhett did not even favor her with a glance.

  “Quickly, Mrs. Wilkes! There may still be time.”

  Melanie seemed in a paralysis58 of terror and only stared into his face.

  “What on earth—” began Scarlett.

  “Shet yore mouth,” directed Archie briefly59. “You too, Miss Melly. Git the hell out of here, youdamned Scalawag.”

  “No, Archie, no!” cried Melanie and she put a shaking hand on Rhett’s arm as though to protecthim from Archie. “What has happened? How did—how did you know?”

  On Rhett’s dark face impatience60 fought with courtesy.

  “Good God, Mrs. Wilkes, they’ve all been under suspicion since the beginning—only they’vebeen too clever—until tonight! How do I know? I was playing poker61 tonight with two drunkenYankee captains and they let it out. The Yankees knew there’d be trouble tonight and they’ve prepared for it. The fools have walked into a trap.”

  For a moment it was as though Melanie swayed under the impact of a heavy blow and Rhett’sarm went around her waist to steady her.

  “Don’t tell him! He’s trying to trap you!” cried India, glaring at Rhett. “Didn’t you hear him sayhe’d been with Yankee officers tonight?”

  Still Rhett did not look at her. His eyes were bent insistently62 on Melanie’s white face.

  “Tell me. Where did they go? Have they a meeting place?”

  Despite her fear and incomprehension, Scarlett thought she had never seen a blanker, moreexpressionless face than Rhett’s but evidently Melanie saw something else, something that madeher give her trust. She straightened her small body away from the steadying arm and said quietlybut with a voice that shook:

  “Out the Decatur road near Shantytown. They meet in the cellar of the old Sullivan plantation63—the one that’s half-burned.”

  “Thank you. I’ll ride fast. When the Yankees come here, none of you know anything.”

  He was gone so swiftly, his black cape melting into the night, that they could hardly realize hehad been there at all until they heard the spattering of gravel64 and the mad pounding of a horsegoing off at full gallop65.

  “The Yankees coming here?” cried Pitty and, her small feet turning under her, she collapsed66 onthe sofa, too frightened for tears.

  “What’s it all about? What did he mean? If you don’t tell me I’ll go crazy!” Scarlett laid handson Melanie and shook her violently as if by force she could shake an answer from her.

  “Mean? It means you’ve probably been the cause of Ashley’s and Mr. Kennedy’s death!” Inspite of the agony of fear there was a note of triumph in India’s voice. “Stop shaking Melly. She’sgoing to faint.”

  “No, I’m not,” whispered Melanie, clutching the back of a chair.

  “My God, my God! I don’t understand! Kill Ashley? Please, somebody tell me—”

  Archie’s voice, like a rusty67 hinge, cut through Scarlett’s words.

  “Set down,” he ordered briefly. “Pick up yore sewin’. Sew like nothin’ had happened. For all weknow, the Yankees might have been spyin’ on this house since sundown. Set down, I say, and sew.”

  Trembling they obeyed, even Pitty picking up a sock and holding it in shaking fingers while hereyes, wide as a frightened child’s went around the circle for an explanation.

  “Where is Ashley? What has happened to him, Melly?” cried Scarlett.

  “Where’s your husband? Aren’t you interested in him?” India’s pale eyes blazed with insanemalice as she crumpled68 and straightened the torn towel she had been mending.

  “India, please!” Melanie had mastered her voice but her white, shaken face and tortured eyesshowed the strain under which she was laboring69. “Scarlett, perhaps we should have told you but— but—you had been through so much this afternoon that we—that Frank didn’t think—and youwere always so outspoken70 against the Klan—”

  “The Klan—”

  At first, Scarlett spoke the word as if she had never heard it before and had no comprehension ofits meaning and then:

  “The Klan!” she almost screamed it. “Ashley isn’t in the Klan! Frank can’t be! Oh, he promisedme!”

  “Of course, Mr. Kennedy is in the Klan and Ashley, too, and all the men we know,” cried India.

  “They are men, aren’t they? And white men and Southerners. You should have been proud of himinstead of making him sneak71 out as though it were something shameful72 and—”

  “You all have known all along and I didn’t—”

  “We were afraid it would upset you,” said Melanie sorrowfully.

  “Then that’s where they go when they’re supposed to be at the political meetings? Oh, hepromised me! Now, the Yankees will come and take my mills and the store and put him in jail—oh,what did Rhett Butler mean?”

  India’s eyes met Melanie’s in wild fear. Scarlett rose, flinging her sewing down.

  “If you don’t tell me, I’m going downtown and find out. I’ll ask everybody I see until I find—”

  “Set,” said Archie, fixing her with his eye. “I’ll tell you. Because you went gallivantin’ thisafternoon and got yore-self into trouble through yore own fault, Mr. Wilkes and Mr. Kennedy andthe other men are out tonight to kill that thar nigger and that thar white man, if they can catchthem, and wipe out that whole Shantytown settlement. And if what that Scalawag said is true, theYankees suspected sumpin’ or got wind somehow and they’ve sont out troops to lay for them. Andour men have walked into a trap. And if what Butler said warn’t true, then he’s a spy and he isgoin’ to turn them up to the Yankees and they’ll git kilt just the same. And if he does turn them up,then I’ll kill him, if it’s the last deed of m’ life. And if they ain’t kilt, then they’ll all have to lightout of here for Texas and lay low and maybe never come back. It’s all yore fault and thar’s bloodon yore hands.”

  Anger wiped out the fear from Melanie’s face as she saw comprehension come slowly acrossScarlett’s face and then horror follow swiftly. She rose and put her hand on Scarlett’s shoulder.

  “Another such word and you go out of this house, Archie,” she said sternly. “It’s not her faultShe only did—did what she felt she had to do. And our men did what they felt they had to do.

  People must do what they must do. We don’t all think alike or act alike and it’s wrong to—to judgeothers by ourselves. How can you and India say such cruel things when her husband as well asmine may be—may be—”

  “Hark!” interrupted Archie softly. “Set, Ma’m. Thar’s horses.”

  Melanie sank into a chair, picked up one of Ashley’s shirts and, bowing her head over it,unconsciously began to tear the frills into small ribbons.

  The sound of hooves grew louder as horses trotted73 up to the house. There was the jangling of bits and the strain of leather and the sound of voices. As the hooves stopped in front of the house,one voice rose above the others in a command and the listeners heard feet going through the sideyard toward the back porch. They felt that a thousand inimical eyes looked at them through theunshaded front window and the four women, with fear in their hearts, bent their heads and pliedtheir needles. Scarlett’s heart screamed in her breast: “I’ve killed Ashley! I’ve killed him!” And inthat wild moment she did not even think that she might have killed Frank too. She had no room inher mind for any picture save that of Ashley, lying at the feet of Yankee cavalrymen, his fair hairdappled with blood.

  As the harsh rapid knocking sounded at the door, she looked at Melanie and saw come over thesmall, strained face a new expression, an expression as blank as she had just seen on Rhett Butler’sface, the bland74 blank look of a poker player bluffing75 a game with only two deuces.

  “Archie, open the door,” she said quietly.

  Slipping his knife into his boot top and loosening the pistol in his trouser band, Archie stumpedover to the door and flung it open. Pitty gave a little squeak76, like a mouse who feels the trap snapdown, as she saw massed in the doorway, a Yankee captain and a squad77 of bluecoats. But theothers said nothing. Scarlett saw with the faintest feeling of relief that she knew this officer. Hewas Captain Tom Jaffery, one of Rhett’s friends. She had sold him lumber78 to build his house. Sheknew him to be a gentleman. Perhaps, as he was a gentleman, he wouldn’t drag them away toprison. He recognized her instantly and, taking off his hat, bowed, somewhat embarrassed.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Kennedy. And which of you ladies is Mrs. Wilkes?”

  “I am Mrs. Wilkes,” answered Melanie, rising and for all her smallness, dignity flowed from her.

  “And to what do I owe this intrusion?”

  The eyes of the captain flickered79 quickly about the room, resting for an instant on each face,passing quickly from their faces to the table and the hat rack as though looking for signs of maleoccupancy.

  “I should like to speak to Mr. Wilkes and Mr. Kennedy, if you please.”

  “They are not here,” said Melanie, a chill in her soft voice.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Don’t you question Miz Wilkes’ word,” said Archie, his beard bristling80.

  “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Wilkes. I meant no disrespect. If you give me your word, I will notsearch the house.”

  “You have my word. But search if you like. They are at a meeting downtown at Mr. Kennedy’sstore.”

  “They are not at the store. There was no meeting tonight,” answered the captain grimly. “Wewill wait outside until they return.”

  He bowed briefly and went out, closing the door behind him. Those in the house heard a sharporder, muffled81 by the wind: “Surround the house. A man at each window and door.” There was atramping of feet. Scarlett checked a start of terror as she dimly saw bearded faces peering in the windows at them. Melanie sat down and with a hand that did not tremble reached for a book on thetable. It was a ragged82 copy of Les Miserables, that book which caught the fancy of the Confederatesoldiers. They had read it by campfire light and took some grim pleasure in calling it “Lee’sMiserables.” She opened it at the middle and began to read in a clear monotonous83 voice.

  “Sew,” commanded Archie in a hoarse84 whisper and the three women, nerved by Melanie’s coolvoice, picked up their sewing and bowed their heads.

  How long Melanie read beneath that circle of watching eyes, Scarlett never knew but it seemedhours. She did not even hear a word that Melanie read. Now she was beginning to think of Frankas well as Ashley. So this was the explanation of his apparent calm this evening! He had promisedher he would have nothing to do with the Klan. Oh, this was just the kind of trouble she had fearedwould come upon them! All the work of this last year would go for nothing. All her struggles andfears and labors85 in rain and cold had been wasted. And who would have thought that spiritless oldFrank would get himself mixed up in the hot-headed doings of the Klan? Even at this minute, hemight be dead. And if he wasn’t dead and the Yankees caught him, he’d be hanged. And Ashley,too!

  Her nails dug, into her palms until four bright-red crescents showed. How could Melanie read onand on so calmly when Ashley was in danger of being hanged? When he might be dead? Butsomething in the cool soft voice reading the sorrows of Jean Valjean steadied her, kept her fromleaping to her feet and screaming.

  Her mind fled back to the night Tony Fontaine had come to them, hunted, exhausted86, withoutmoney. If he had not reached their house and received money and a fresh horse, he would havebeen hanged long since. If Frank and Ashley were not dead at this very minute, they were inTony’s position, only worse. With the house surrounded by soldiers they couldn’t come home andget money and clothes without being captured. And probably every house up and down the streethad a similar guard of Yankees, so they could not apply to friends for aid. Even now they might beriding wildly through the night, bound for Texas.

  But Rhett—perhaps Rhett had reached them in time. Rhett always had plenty of cash in hispocket. Perhaps he would lend them enough to see them through. But that was queer. Why shouldRhett bother himself about Ashley’s safety? Certainly he disliked him, certainly he professed87 acontempt for him. Then why— But his riddle88 was swallowed up in a renewed fear for the safety ofAshley and Frank.

  “Oh, it’s all my fault!” she wailed89 to herself. “India and Archie spoke the truth. It’s all my fault.

  But I never thought either of them was foolish enough to join the Klan! And I never thoughtanything would really happen to me! But I couldn’t have done otherwise. Melly spoke the truth.

  People have to do what they have to do. And I had to keep the mills going! I had to have money!

  And now I’ll probably lose it all and somehow it’s all my fault!”

  After a long time Melanie’s voice faltered90, trailed off and was silent. She turned her head towardthe window and stared as though no Yankee soldier stared back from behind the glass. The othersraised their heads, caught by her listening pose, and they too listened.

  There was a sound of horses’ feet and of singing, deadened by the closed windows and doors, borne away by the wind but still recognizable. It was the most hated and hateful of all songs, thesong about Sherman’s men “Marching through Georgia” and Rhett Butler was singing it.

  Hardly had he finished the first lines when two other voices, drunken voices, assailed91 him,enraged foolish voices that stumbled over words and blurred92 them together. There was a quickcommand from Captain Jaffery on the front porch and the rapid tramp of feet. But even beforethese sounds arose, the ladies looked at one another stunned. For the drunken voices expostulatingwith Rhett were those of Ashley and Hugh Elsing.

  Voices rose louder on the front walk, Captain Jaffery’s curt93 and questioning, Hugh’s shrill94 withfoolish laughter, Rhett’s deep and reckless and Ashley’s queer, unreal, shouting: “What the hell!

  What the hell!”

  “That can’t be Ashley!” thought Scarlett wildly. “He never gets drunk! And Rhett—why, whenRhett’s drunk he gets quieter and quieter—never loud like that!”

  Melanie rose and, with her, Archie rose. They heard the captain’s sharp voice: “These two menare under arrest.” And Archie’s hand closed over his pistol butt95.

  “No,” whispered Melanie firmly. “No. Leave it to me.”

  There was in her face the same look Scarlett had seen that day at Tara when Melanie had stoodat the top of the steps looking down at the dead Yankee, her weak wrist weighed down by theheavy saber—a gentle and timid soul nerved by circumstances to the caution and fury of a tigress.

  She threw the front door open.

  “Bring him in, Captain Butler,” she called in a clear tone that bit with venom96. “I suppose you’vegotten him intoxicated97 again. Bring him in.”

  From the dark windy walk, the Yankee captain spoke: “I’m sorry, Mrs. Wilkes, but your husbandand Mr. Elsing are under arrest.”

  “Arrest? For what? For drunkenness? If everyone in Atlanta was arrested for drunkenness, thewhole Yankee garrison98 would be in jail continually. Well, bring him in, Captain Butler—that is, ifyou can walk yourself.”

  Scarlett’s mind was not working quickly and for a brief moment nothing made sense. She knewneither Rhett nor Ashley was drunk and she knew Melanie knew they were not drunk. Yet here wasMelanie, usually so gentle and refined, screaming like a shrew and in front of Yankees too, thatboth of them were too drunk to walk.

  There was a short mumbled99 argument, punctuated100 with curses, and uncertain feet ascended101 thestairs. In the doorway appeared Ashley, white faced, his head lolling, his bright hair tousled, hislong body wrapped from neck to knees in Rhett’s black cape. Hugh Elsing and Rhett, none toosteady on their feet, supported him on either side and it was obvious he would have fallen to thefloor but for their aid. Behind them came the Yankee captain, his face a study of mingled102 suspicionand amusement. He stood in the open doorway with his men peering curiously103 over his shouldersand the cold wind swept the house.

  Scarlett, frightened, puzzled, glanced at Melanie and back to the sagging104 Ashley and then half-comprehension came to her. She started to cry out: “But he can’t be drunk!” and bit back the words. She realized she was witnessing a play, a desperate play on which lives hinged. She knewshe was not part of it nor was Aunt Pitty but the others were and they were tossing cues to oneanother like actors in an oft-rehearsed drama. She understood only half but she understood enoughto keep silent.

  “Put him in the chair,” cried Melanie indignantly. “And you, Captain Butler, leave this houseimmediately! How dare you show your face here after getting him in this condition again!”

  The two men eased Ashley into a rocker and Rhett, swaying, caught hold of the back of the chairto steady himself and addressed the captain with pain in his voice.

  “That’s fine thanks I get, isn’t it? For keeping the police from getting him and bringing himhome and him yelling and trying to claw me!”

  “And you, Hugh Elsing, I’m ashamed of you! What will your poor mother say? Drunk and outwith a—a Yankee-loving Scalawag like Captain Butler! And, oh, Mr. Wilkes, how could you dosuch a thing?”

  “Melly, I ain’t so very drunk,” mumbled Ashley, and with the words fell forward and lay facedown on the table, his head buried in his arms.

  “Archie, take him to his room and put him to bed—as usual,” ordered Melanie. “Aunt Pitty,please run and fix the bed and oo-oh,” she suddenly burst into tears. “Oh, how could he? After hepromised!”

  Archie already had his arm under Ashley’s shoulder and Pitty, frightened and uncertain, was onher feet when the captain interposed.

  “Don’t touch him. He’s under arrest. Sergeant105!”

  As the sergeant stepped into the room, his rifle at trail, Rhett, evidently trying to steady himself,put a hand on the captain’s arm and, with difficulty, focused his eyes.

  “Tom, what you arresting him for? He ain’t so very drunk. I’ve seen him drunker.”

  “Drunk be damned,” cried the captain. “He can lie in the gutter106 for all I care. I’m no policeman.

  He and Mr. Elsing are under arrest for complicity in a Klan raid at Shantytown tonight. A niggerand a white man were killed. Mr. Wilkes was the ringleader in it.”

  “Tonight?” Rhett began to laugh. He laughed so hard that he sat down on the sofa and put hishead in his hands. “Not tonight, Tom,” he said when he could speak. “These two have been withme tonight—ever since eight o’clock when they were supposed to be at the meeting.”

  “With you, Rhett? But—” A frown came over the captain’s forehead and he looked uncertainlyat the snoring Ashley and his weeping wife. “But—where were you?”

  “I don’t like to say,” and Rhett shot a look of drunken cunning at Melanie.

  “You’d better say!”

  “Le’s go out on the porch and I’ll tell you where we were.”

  “You’ll tell me now.”

  “Hate to say it in front of ladies. If you ladies’ll step out of the room—”

  “I won’t go,” cried Melanie, dabbing107 angrily at her eyes with her handkerchief. “I have a right toknow. Where was my husband?”

  “At Belle108 Watling’s sporting house,” said Rhett, looking abashed109. “He was there and Hugh andFrank Kennedy and Dr. Meade and—and a whole lot of them. Had a party. Big party. Champagne110.

  Girls—”

  “At—at Belle Watling’s?”

  Melanie’s voice rose until it cracked with such pain that all eyes turned frightenedly to her. Herhand went clutching at her bosom and, before Archie could catch her, she had fainted. Then ahubbub ensued, Archie picking her up, India running to the kitchen for water, Pitty and Scarlettfanning her and slapping her wrists, while Hugh Elsing shouted over and over: “Now you’ve doneit! Now you’ve done it!”

  “Now it’ll be all over town,” said Rhett savagely111. “I hope you’re satisfied, Tom. There won’t bea wife in Atlanta who’ll speak to her husband tomorrow.”

  “Rhett, I had no idea—” Though the chill wind was blowing through the open door on his back,the captain was perspiring112. “Look here! You take an oath they were at—er—at Belle’s?”

  “Hell, yes,” growled113 Rhett “Go ask Belle herself if you don’t believe me. Now, let me carryMrs. Wilkes to her room. Give her to me, Archie. Yes, I can carry her. Miss Pitty, go ahead with alamp.”

  He took Melanie’s limp body from Archie’s arms with ease.

  “You get Mr. Wilkes to bed, Archie. I don’t want to ever lay eyes or hands on him again afterthis night.”

  Pitty’s hand trembled so that the lamp was a menace to the safety of the house but she held itand trotted ahead toward the dark bedroom. Archie, with a grunt114, got an arm under Ashley andraised him.

  “But—I’ve got to arrest these men!”

  Rhett turned in the dim hallway.

  “Arrest them in the morning then. They can’t run away in this condition—and I never knewbefore that it was illegal to get drunk in a sporting house. Good God, Tom, there are fifty witnessesto prove they were at Belle’s.”

  “There are always fifty witnesses to prove a Southerner was somewhere he wasn’t,” said thecaptain morosely115. “You come with me, Mr. Elsing. I’ll parole Mr. Wilkes on the word of—”

  “I am Mr. Wilkes’ sister. I will answer for his appearance,” said India coldly. “Now, will youplease go? You’ve caused enough trouble for one night.”

  “I regret it exceedingly.” The captain bowed awkwardly. “I only hope they can prove theirpresence at the—er—Miss—Mrs. Watling’s house. Will you tell your brother that he must appearbefore the provost marshal tomorrow morning for questioning?”

  India bowed coldly and, putting her hand upon the door knob, intimated silently that his speedy retirement116 would be welcome. The captain and the sergeant backed out, Hugh Elsing with them,and she slammed the door behind them. Without even looking at Scarlett, she went swiftly to eachwindow and drew down the shade. Scarlett, her knees shaking, caught hold of the chair in whichAshley had been sitting to steady herself. Looking down at it, she saw that there was a dark moistspot, larger than her hand, on the cushion in the back of the chair. Puzzled, her hand went over itand, to her horror, a sticky red wetness appeared on her palm.

  “India,” she whispered, “India, Ashley’s—he’s hurt.”

  “You fool! Did you think he was really drunk?” India snapped down the last shade and startedon flying feet for the bedroom, with Scarlett close behind her, her heart in her throat. Rhett’s bigbody barred the doorway but, past his shoulder, Scarlett saw Ashley lying white and still on thebed. Melanie, strangely quick for one so recently in a faint, was rapidly cutting off his blood-soaked shirt with embroidery117 scissors. Archie held the lamp low over the bed to give light and oneof his gnarled fingers was on Ashley’s wrist.

  “Is he dead?” cried both girls together.

  “No, just fainted from loss of blood. It’s through his shoulder,” said Rhett.

  “Why did you bring him here, you fool?” cried India, “Let me get to him! Let me pass! Why didyou bring him here to be arrested?”

  “He was too weak to travel. There was nowhere else to bring him, Miss Wilkes. Besides—doyou want him to be an exile like Tony Fontaine? Do you want a dozen of your neighbors to live inTexas under assumed names for the rest of their lives? There’s a chance that we may get them alloff if Belle—”

  “Let me pass!”

  “No, Miss Wilkes. There’s work for you. You must go for a doctor— Not Dr. Meade. He’simplicated in this and is probably explaining to the Yankees at this very minute. Get some otherdoctor. Are you afraid to go out alone at night?”

  “No,” said India, her pale eyes glittering. “I’m not afraid.” She caught up Melanie’s hooded118 capewhich was hanging on a book in the hall. “I’ll go for old Dr. Dean.” The excitement went out ofher voice as, with an effort, she forced calmness. “I’m sorry I called you a spy and a fool. I did notunderstand. I’m deeply grateful for what you’ve done for Ashley—but I despise you just thesame.”

  “I appreciate frankness—and I thank you for it.” Rhett bowed and his lip curled down in anamused smile. “Now, go quickly and by back ways and when you return do not come in this houseif you see signs of soldiers about.”

  India shot one more quick anguished119 look at Ashley, and, wrapping her cape about her, ranlightly down the hall to the back door and let herself out quietly into the night.

  Scarlett, straining her eyes past Rhett, felt her heart beat again as she saw Ashley’s eyes open.

  Melanie snatched a folded towel from the washstand rack and pressed it against his streamingshoulder and he smiled up weakly, reassuringly120 into her face. Scarlett felt Rhett’s hard penetratingeyes upon her, knew that her heart was plain upon her face, but she did not care. Ashley was bleeding, perhaps dying and she who loved him had torn that hole through his shoulder. Shewanted to run to the bed, sink down beside it and clasp him to her but her knees trembled so thatshe could not enter the room. Hand at her mouth, she stared while Melanie packed a fresh towelagainst his shoulder, pressing it hard as though she could force back the blood into his body. Butthe towel reddened as though by magic.

  How could a man bleed so much and still live? But, thank God, there was no bubble of blood athis lips—oh, those frothy red bubbles, forerunners121 of death that she knew so well from thedreadful day of the battle at Peachtree Creek122 when the wounded had died on Aunt Pitty’s lawn withbloody mouths.

  “Brace up,” said Rhett, and there was a hard, faintly jeering123 note in his voice. “He won’t die.

  Now, go take the lamp and hold it for Mrs. Wilkes. I need Archie to run errands.”

  Archie looked across the lamp at Rhett.

  “I ain’t takin’ no orders from you,” he said briefly, shifting his wad of tobacco to the othercheek.

  “You do what he says,” said Melanie sternly, “and do it quickly. Do everything Captain Butlersays. Scarlett, take the lamp.”

  Scarlett went forward and took the lamp, holding it in both hands to keep from dropping it.

  Ashley’s eyes had closed again. His bare chest heaved up slowly and sank quickly and the redstream seeped124 from between Melanie’s small frantic125 fingers. Dimly she heard Archie stump51 acrossthe room to Rhett and heard Rhett’s low rapid words. Her mind was so fixed126 upon Ashley that ofthe first half-whispered words of Rhett, she only heard: Take my horse ... tied outside ... ride likehell.”

  Archie mumbled some question and Scarlett heard Rhett reply: “The old Sullivan plantation.

  You’ll find the robes pushed up the biggest chimney. Burn them.”

  “Um,” grunted127 Archie.

  “And there’s two—men in the cellar. Pack them over the horse as best you can and take them tothat vacant lot behind Belle’s—the one between her house and the railroad tracks. Be careful. Ifanyone sees you, you’ll hang as well as the rest of us. Put them in that lot and put pistols near them—in their hands. Here—take mine.”

  Scarlett, looking across the room, saw Rhett reach under his coat tails and produce two revolverswhich Archie took and shoved into his waist band.

  “Fire one shot from each. It’s got to appear like a plain case of shooting. You understand?”

  Archie nodded as if he understood perfectly128 and an unwilling129 gleam of respect shone in his coldeye. But understanding was far from Scarlett. The last half-hour had been so nightmarish that shefelt nothing would ever be plain and clear again. However, Rhett seemed in perfect command ofthe bewildering situation and that was a small comfort.

  Archie turned to go and then swung about and his one eye went questioningly to Rhett’s face.

  “Him?”

  “Yes.”

  Archie grunted and spat on the floor.

  “Hell to pay,” he said as he stumped down the hall to the back door.

  Something in the last low interchange of words made a new fear and suspicion rise up inScarlett’s breast like a chill ever-swelling130 bubble. When that bubble broke—“Where’s Frank?” she cried.

  Rhett came swiftly across the room to the bed, his big body swinging as lightly and noiselesslyas a cat’s.

  “All in good time,” he said and smiled briefly. “Steady that lamp, Scarlett. You don’t want toburn Mr. Wilkes up. Miss Melly—”

  Melanie looked up like a good little soldier awaiting a command and so tense was the situation itdid not occur to her that for the first time Rhett was calling her familiarly by the name which onlyfamily and old friends used.

  “I beg your pardon, I mean, Mrs. Wilkes. ...”

  “Oh, Captain Butler, do not ask my pardon! I should feel honored if you called me ‘Melly’

  without the Miss! I feel as though you were my—my brother or—or my cousin. How kind you areand how clever! How can I ever thank you enough?”

  “Thank you,” said Rhett and for a moment he looked almost embarrassed. “I should neverpresume so far, but Miss Melly,” and his voice was apologetic, “I’m sorry I had to say that Mr.

  Wilkes was in Belle Watling’s house. I’m sorry to have involved him and the others in such a—But I had to think fast when I rode away from here and that was the only plan that occurred to me.

  I knew my word would be accepted because I have so many friends among the Yankee officers.

  They do me the dubious131 honor of thinking me almost one of them because they know my—shallwe call it my ‘unpopularity’?—among my townsmen. And you see, I was playing poker in Belle’sbar earlier in the evening. There are a dozen Yankee soldiers who can testify to that. And Belle andher girls will gladly lie themselves black in the face and say Mr. Wilkes and the others were—upstairs all evening. And the Yankees will believe them. Yankees are queer that way. It won’t occurto them that women of—their profession are capable of intense loyalty132 or patriotism133. The Yankeeswouldn’t take the word of a single nice Atlanta lady as to the whereabouts of the men who weresupposed to be at the meeting tonight but they will take the word of—fancy ladies. And I think thatbetween the word of honor of a Scalawag and a dozen fancy ladies, we may have a chance ofgetting the men off.”

  There was a sardonic134 grin on his face at the last words but it faded as Melanie turned up to him aface that blazed with gratitude135.

  “Captain Butler, you are so smart! I wouldn’t have cared if you’d said they were in hell itselftonight, if it saves them! For I know and every one else who matters knows that my husband wasnever in a dreadful place like that!”

  “Well—” began Rhett awkwardly, “as a matter of fact, he was at Belle’s tonight.”

  Melanie drew herself up coldly.

  “You can never make me believe such a lie!”

  “Please, Miss Melly! Let me explain! When I got out to the old Sullivan place tonight, I foundMr. Wilkes wounded and with him were Hugh Elsing and Dr. Meade and old man Merriwether—”

  “Not the old gentleman!” cried Scarlett.

  “Men are never too old to be fools. And your Uncle Henry—”

  “Oh, mercy!” cried Aunt Pitty.

  “The others had scattered136 after the brush with the troops and the crowd that stuck together hadcome to the Sullivan place to hide their robes in the chimney and to see how badly Mr. Wilkes washurt. But for his wound, they’d be headed for Texas by now—all of them—but he couldn’t ride farand they wouldn’t leave him. It was necessary to prove that they had been somewhere instead ofwhere they had been, and so I took them by back ways to Belle Watling’s.”

  “Oh—I see. I do beg your pardon for my rudeness, Captain Butler. I see now it was necessary totake them there but— Oh, Captain Butler, people must have seen you going in!”

  “No one saw us. We went in through a private back entrance that opens on the railroad tracks.

  It’s always dark and locked.”

  “Then how—?”

  “I have a key,” said Rhett laconically137, and his eyes met Melanie’s evenly.

  As the full impact of the meaning smote138 her, Melanie became so embarrassed that she fumbledwith the bandage until it slid off the wound entirely139.

  “I did not mean to pry—” she said in a muffled voice, her white face reddening, as she hastilypressed the towel back into place.

  “I regret having to tell a lady such a thing.”

  “Then it’s true!” thought Scarlett with an odd pang140. Then he does live with that dreadful Watlingcreature! He does own her house!”

  “I saw Belle and explained to her. We gave her a list of the men who were out tonight and sheand her girls will testify that they were all in her house tonight. Then to make our exit moreconspicuous, she called the two desperadoes who keep order at her place and had us draggeddownstairs, fighting, and through the barroom and thrown out into the street as brawling141 drunkswho were disturbing the place.”

  He grinned reminiscently. “Dr. Meade did not make a very convincing drunk. It hurt his dignityto even be in such a place. But your Uncle Henry and old man Merriwether were excellent. Thestage lost two great actors when they did not take up the drama. They seemed to enjoy the affair.

  I’m afraid your Uncle Henry has a black eye due to Mr. Merriwether’s zeal142 for his part. He—”

  The back door swung open and India entered, followed by old Dr. Dean, his long white hairtumbled, his worn leather bag bulging143 under his cape. He nodded briefly but without words tothose present and quickly lifted the bandage from Ashley’s shoulder.

  Too high for the lung,” he said. “If it hasn’t splintered his collar bone it’s not so serious. Get meplenty of towels, ladies, and cotton if you have it, and some brandy.”

  Rhett took the lamp from Scarlett and set it on the table as Melanie and India sped about,obeying the doctor’s orders.

  “You can’t do anything here. Come into the parlor by the fire.” He took her arm and propelledher from the room. There was a gentleness foreign to him in both hand and voice. “You’ve had arotten day, haven’t you?”

  She allowed herself to be led into the front room and though she stood on the hearth rug in frontof the fire she began to shiver. The bubble of suspicion in her breast was swelling larger now. Itwas more than a suspicion. It was almost a certainty and a terrible certainty. She looked up intoRhett’s immobile face and for a moment she could not speak. Then:

  “Was Frank at—Belle Watling’s?”

  “No.”

  Rhett’s voice was blunt.

  “Archie’s carrying him to the vacant lot near Belle’s. He’s dead. Shot through the head.”

  那天晚上,弗兰克把思嘉、皮蒂姑妈和孩子们安顿在媚兰家以后,就和艾希礼一起骑马出去了。思嘉几乎要大发雷霆伤心地落泪了。在这样的一天晚上,他怎么还要出去参加什么政治集会呢?政治集会!就在这天晚上,她刚在外面受了欺侮,而且当时说不定还会出什么事,他怎么能这么对待她呢?这个人可真自私自利,没心肝,当她哭着,敞着怀,萨姆把她抱进屋来时,他一直很平静,他这种态度简直能把人气疯了。她一面哭,一面诉说事情经过。他都始终没有着急,他只慢条斯里地问:“宝贝儿,你是伤着了----还是光是受了惊?”她当时又气又恼,说不出话来,萨姆就主动替她说只是受了点惊。
  “他们没来得及再撕她的衣服,我就赶到了。"“萨姆,你是个好孩子,我会记住你的好处。要是我能帮你做点什么----"“是的,先生,您可以送我到塔拉去。越快越好!北方佬正在抓我呢。"弗兰克听他这么说,也是很平静,而且也没再问什么,弗兰克的表情很像他在托尼来敲门的那天晚上的表情,仿佛这应该是男人的事,而且处理起来越少说话,越不动感情越好。
  “你去上车吧。我叫彼得今天晚上就送你,把你送到拉甫雷迪,你先在树林子躲一夜,明天一早坐火车去琼斯博罗,这样比较稳妥。……啊,宝贝,别哭了,事情已经过去了,也并没有伤着你。皮蒂姑妈,请把嗅盐拿来给我用用,好吗?嬷嬷,去给思嘉小姐倒杯酒来。“这时思嘉又大声哭起来,这一次是生气而哭的,她需要得到他的安慰,需要他表示愤怒,说要为她报仇,她甚至希望他对她发火,说早就告诉她会出这样的事----怎么都行,就别这样显得平静而无所谓的样子,认为她没有遇到什么大不了的危险,他虽然表示很关心,很体贴,可就像是心不在焉,好像还有什么事,比这重要得多。
  原来这件重要的事就是参加一次小小的政治集会。
  思嘉听到弗兰克让她换衣服,准备送她到媚兰家去待一晚上,她真不敢相信自己是不是听清楚了。他应该知道她今天碰上这样的事有多么痛苦,现在已经筋疲力尽了,而且神经受了刺激,极需躺在床上,盖上毯子,暖暖和和地休息休息,再来一块热砖头暖暖脚,来一杯热甜酒压压惊,怎么会有心思到媚兰家去待一晚上呢。弗兰克要是真爱她,在这样一天的晚上,无论有什么重要的事,他也不能离开她的身边呀。他应该在家里守在她身边,握住她的手,一遍又一遍地对她说,她要是真出一什么事,他也就活不成了,等他今天晚上回来,他们俩单独在一起的时候,一定要把这个想法告诉他。
  每逢弗兰克和艾希礼一道外出,女眷们都聚集在媚兰的小客厅里做针线活儿,气氛总是很宁静的,今晚也不例外,屋里炉火熊熊,使人感到很温暖而愉快。桌上的灯发出幽静的黄色光芒,照在四个女人光亮的头发上,她们就在这盏灯下埋头做针线。四个人的裙子轻轻飘动,八只小巧的脚轻轻地搭在脚凳上,育儿室的门开着,可以听到从里面传出韦德、爱拉和小博的轻微的呼吸声。阿尔奇坐在壁炉前的一张凳子上,背对着炉火,满嘴的烟叶把腮帮子撑得鼓鼓的,他在那里认真地削一块木头,这个蓬头垢面的老头儿和四位梳妆整齐、衣着讲究的妇人在一起,形成了鲜明的对照,仿佛他是一只花白的凶猛的看门老狗,而她们则是四只温顺可爱的小猫。
  媚兰用略带气愤的口气没完没了地轻声述说最近妇女竖琴乐队发火的事,在讨论下次音乐会出什么节目的问题上,妇女们竖琴乐队未能和男声合唱团取得一致意见,于是当天下午就找到媚兰,宣布她们全都要退出乐团。媚兰尽全力解说协调,才说服她们暂不实行这项决定。
  思嘉的心情依然没有平静,听媚兰这样滔滔不绝地反复讲述,几乎忍不住大喊:“去他妈的妇女竖琴乐队!"她非常想详细谈一谈她自己的可怕经历,让大家分担一下她所受到的惊吓。她想告诉她们自己当时是多么勇敢,这样她就可以借自己的声音向自己证实自己当时的确是很勇敢的。可是每当地提起这个话题,媚兰就巧妙地扯到别的无聊的事情上去。
  这使得思嘉大为不满,几乎到了难以忍受的地步。这些人怎么都和弗兰克一样坏呢!
  她刚逃脱那么可怕一次遭遇,这些人怎么就这样坦然,这样无动于衷?如果让她说一说,她会感到好受些,可这些人连这样一个机会也不给她,真是太缺乏起码的礼貌。
  这天下午发生的事对她震动太大了,虽然她不肯承认,连对自己也不肯承认这一点。她只要一想起黄昏时在树林附近的路上,一张凶恶的黑脸在暗处向她窥视,就吓得她浑身哆嗦,她一想起那只黑手在她胸口乱抓,要是萨姆不来,还要可能会发生什么事,她就把头垂得更低,把眼睛闭得紧紧的。
  她坐在这平静的客厅里沉默不语,一面想尽力安心做针线,一面听着媚兰说话,可是越是这样,她的神经绷得越紧,她觉得她的神经紧张得随时都会像班卓琴的弦一样砰的一声绷断的。
  阿尔奇在那里削木头,她也感到不舒服,对着他直皱眉头。突然她又觉得奇怪,他为什么要坐在那里削木头呢?往常他晚上守卫的时候,总是直挺挺在躺在大沙发上睡觉,鼾声震耳,每呼一口气都把他那长胡子吹起来。使她觉得更为奇怪的是无论是媚兰,还是英迪亚。谁也不提醒他在地上铺张纸,免得木屑掉得到处都是。他已经把炉前的地毯弄得满是木屑一塌糊涂,她们仿佛什么都没有看见。
  她正看着阿尔奇,他突然一转身往火上吐了大口嚼烟叶的唾沫,声音之大,使得英迪亚、媚兰和皮蒂都跳了起来,好像方才响了一颗炸弹。
  “至于这么大声儿吗?"英迪亚说。她因为又紧张,心情不愉快,声音都有些嘶哑了。思嘉看了看她,感到很奇怪,因为英迪亚一向是比较矜持的。
  阿尔奇也两眼盯着她,不甘示弱。
  “我看就是这样,"他顶了一句,又吐了一口。媚兰朝着英迪亚皱了皱眉。
  “我就喜欢爸爸从来不嚼烟叶,"皮蒂姑妈开口说话了。媚兰眉头皱得更厉害了,她回过头来说皮蒂,思嘉还没听见她说过这么难听的话呢。
  “唔,别说了,姑妈。你真不会说话。”
  “哎哟!"皮蒂说着就把针线活儿往腿上一撂,嘴也撅了起来。"我可告诉你们,我不知道你们这些人今天晚上是犯了什么玻你和英迪亚还不如两根木头棍子好说话呢。"谁也没理睬她。媚兰并没有因为说话太冲而向她赔不是,只安安静静地继续做起针线来。
  “你的针脚太大了,"皮蒂得意地说,"全得拆下来重做。
  你是怎么了?”
  媚兰一声不吭,不回答她。
  她们出了什么事吗?思嘉感到很纳闷,她是不是光去想自己受惊吓而没注意?真的,虽然媚兰千方百计想使大家觉得今天晚上和过去一起度过的许多夜晚没什么两样。但气氛却与往常不同。这种紧张气氛不可能完全是由于下午的事情大家感到吃惊而引起的。思嘉偷偷地看另外几个人,碰巧英迪亚也在看她。她感到心里很不舒服,因为英迪亚长时间地打量她,冷酷的眼神包含的不是痛恨与鄙视,而是更强列的感情。
  “看样子她认为我是罪魁祸首了。"思嘉愤怒地这样想。
  英迪亚把视线又转到阿尔奇身上,刚才脸上那种不耐烦的神色已经一扫而光,用一种焦急询问的眼光望着他。但阿尔奇并不理会她。他倒是在看思嘉和英迪亚一样冷冰冰地看着她。
  媚兰没有再说什么,屋里鸦雀无声,在沉寂中,思嘉听见外面起风了。她突然觉得这是一个很不愉快的夜晚,现在她开始感到气氛紧张,心想也许整个晚上气氛都是紧张的,只是自己过于烦恼,没有注意吧。阿尔奇的脸上显出一种警惕、等待的神色,他竖着两只毛茸茸的耳朵,像只老山猫一样,媚兰


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 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。
2 gaping gaping     
adj.口的;张口的;敞口的;多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 );张开,张大
参考例句:
  • Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。
  • The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 wrath nVNzv     
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒
参考例句:
  • His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
  • The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。
4 mingling b387131b4ffa62204a89fca1610062f3     
adj.混合的
参考例句:
  • There was a spring of bitterness mingling with that fountain of sweets. 在这个甜蜜的源泉中间,已经掺和进苦涩的山水了。
  • The mingling of inconsequence belongs to us all. 这场矛盾混和物是我们大家所共有的。
5 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。
6 vengeance wL6zs     
n.报复,报仇,复仇
参考例句:
  • He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
  • For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。
7 relaxation MVmxj     
n.松弛,放松;休息;消遣;娱乐
参考例句:
  • The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
  • She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。
8 tingle tJzzu     
vi.感到刺痛,感到激动;n.刺痛,激动
参考例句:
  • The music made my blood tingle.那音乐使我热血沸腾。
  • The cold caused a tingle in my fingers.严寒使我的手指有刺痛感。
9 soothe qwKwF     
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承
参考例句:
  • I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
  • This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。
10 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?
11 serene PD2zZ     
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的
参考例句:
  • He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
  • He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多,只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。
12 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
13 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。
14 hearth n5by9     
n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面
参考例句:
  • She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来,在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
  • She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里,打开电灯。
15 distended 86751ec15efd4512b97d34ce479b1fa7     
v.(使)膨胀,肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • starving children with huge distended bellies 鼓着浮肿肚子的挨饿儿童
  • The balloon was distended. 气球已膨胀。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
16 whittling 9677e701372dc3e65ea66c983d6b865f     
v.切,削(木头),使逐渐变小( whittle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Inflation has been whittling away their savings. 通货膨胀使他们的积蓄不断减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He is whittling down the branch with a knife to make a handle for his hoe. 他在用刀削树枝做一把锄头柄。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 tinged f86e33b7d6b6ca3dd39eda835027fc59     
v.(使)发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • memories tinged with sadness 略带悲伤的往事
  • white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣
18 temperament 7INzf     
n.气质,性格,性情
参考例句:
  • The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
  • Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。
19 recital kAjzI     
n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会
参考例句:
  • She is going to give a piano recital.她即将举行钢琴独奏会。
  • I had their total attention during the thirty-five minutes that my recital took.在我叙述的35分钟内,他们完全被我吸引了。
20 diplomacy gu9xk     
n.外交;外交手腕,交际手腕
参考例句:
  • The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
  • This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。
21 defer KnYzZ     
vt.推迟,拖延;vi.(to)遵从,听从,服从
参考例句:
  • We wish to defer our decision until next week.我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
  • We will defer to whatever the committee decides.我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。
22 deftly deftly     
adv.灵巧地,熟练地,敏捷地
参考例句:
  • He deftly folded the typed sheets and replaced them in the envelope. 他灵巧地将打有字的纸折好重新放回信封。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • At last he had a clew to her interest, and followed it deftly. 这一下终于让他发现了她的兴趣所在,于是他熟练地继续谈这个话题。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
23 steered dee52ce2903883456c9b7a7f258660e5     
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导
参考例句:
  • He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
  • The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 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。
25 cape ITEy6     
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风
参考例句:
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
26 malignant Z89zY     
adj.恶性的,致命的;恶意的,恶毒的
参考例句:
  • Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
  • He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来,不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。
27 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。
28 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。
29 rumbling 85a55a2bf439684a14a81139f0b36eb1     
n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词
参考例句:
  • The earthquake began with a deep [low] rumbling sound. 地震开始时发出低沉的隆隆声。
  • The crane made rumbling sound. 吊车发出隆隆的响声。
30 spat pFdzJ     
n.口角,掌击;v.发出呼噜呼噜声
参考例句:
  • Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
  • There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。
31 vehemence 2ihw1     
n.热切;激烈;愤怒
参考例句:
  • The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。
  • She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。
32 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼
参考例句:
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
33 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。
34 hush ecMzv     
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静
参考例句:
  • A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
  • Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去!
35 ails c1d673fb92864db40e1d98aae003f6db     
v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 );感到不舒服;处境困难;境况不佳
参考例句:
  • He will not concede what anything ails his business. 他不允许任何事情来干扰他的工作。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Measles ails the little girl. 麻疹折磨着这个小女孩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 intercepted 970326ac9f606b6dc4c2550a417e081e     
拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 ); 截住; 截击; 拦阻
参考例句:
  • Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆,记者们把他拦截住了。
  • Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走,记者把他截住了。
37 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
38 pricked 1d0503c50da14dcb6603a2df2c2d4557     
刺,扎,戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 ); 刺伤; 刺痛; 使剧痛
参考例句:
  • The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
  • He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。
39 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
参考例句:
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
40 groan LfXxU     
vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音
参考例句:
  • The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
  • The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。
41 wailing 25fbaeeefc437dc6816eab4c6298b423     
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的现在分词 );沱
参考例句:
  • A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
  • The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
42 scuffing 991205bbd5c8973f4511ebf04f89101e     
n.刮[磨,擦,划]伤v.使磨损( scuff的现在分词 );拖着脚走
参考例句:
  • The rest of us started giggling, scuffing our feet on the floor. 全班的同学都在笑,把地板擦得很响。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
  • Wade edged closer to him, scuffing one foot and looking unhappy. 韦德向他靠近些,一只脚在地板上擦来擦去,显得很不高兴。 来自飘(部分)
43 pout YP8xg     
v.撅嘴;绷脸;n.撅嘴;生气,不高兴
参考例句:
  • She looked at her lover with a pretentious pout.她看着恋人,故作不悦地撅着嘴。
  • He whined and pouted when he did not get what he wanted.他要是没得到想要的东西就会发牢骚、撅嘴。
44 lashless 60226380f87738fb9a8a86a0331a856f     
adj.无睫毛的
参考例句:
  • As she spoke, India's pale lashless eyes met hers piercingly. 当她这样说时,她发现英迪亚那双没有睫毛的眼睛正犀利地盯着她。 来自飘(部分)
45 sarcastically sarcastically     
adv.挖苦地,讽刺地
参考例句:
  • 'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.“太神奇了!”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。
  • Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically. 皮尔斯嘲笑她,讽刺地鞠了一躬。
46 clenching 1c3528c558c94eba89a6c21e9ee245e6     
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I'll never get used to them, she thought, clenching her fists. 我永远也看不惯这些家伙,她握紧双拳,心里想。 来自飘(部分)
  • Clenching her lips, she nodded. 她紧闭着嘴唇,点点头。 来自辞典例句
47 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
48 hypocrisy g4qyt     
n.伪善,虚伪
参考例句:
  • He railed against hypocrisy and greed.他痛斥伪善和贪婪的行为。
  • He accused newspapers of hypocrisy in their treatment of the story.他指责了报纸在报道该新闻时的虚伪。
49 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。
50 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。
51 stump hGbzY     
n.残株,烟蒂,讲演台;v.砍断,蹒跚而走
参考例句:
  • He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
  • He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。
52 stumped bf2a34ab92a06b6878a74288580b8031     
僵直地行走,跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 ); 把(某人)难住; 使为难; (选举前)在某一地区作政治性巡回演说
参考例句:
  • Jack huffed himself up and stumped out of the room. 杰克气喘吁吁地干完活,然后很艰难地走出房间。
  • He was stumped by the questions and remained tongue-tied for a good while. 他被问得张口结舌,半天说不出话来。
53 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)
54 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。
55 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。
56 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。
57 streaked d67e6c987d5339547c7938f1950b8295     
adj.有条斑纹的,不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 );使布满条纹
参考例句:
  • The children streaked off as fast as they could. 孩子们拔脚飞跑 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • His face was pale and streaked with dirt. 他脸色苍白,脸上有一道道的污痕。 来自辞典例句
58 paralysis pKMxY     
n.麻痹(症);瘫痪(症)
参考例句:
  • The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
  • The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
59 briefly 9Styo     
adv.简单地,简短地
参考例句:
  • I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
  • He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
60 impatience OaOxC     
n.不耐烦,急躁
参考例句:
  • He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
  • He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
61 poker ilozCG     
n.扑克;vt.烙制
参考例句:
  • He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌,把钱都输光了。
  • I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了,可以玩些花样。
62 insistently Iq4zCP     
ad.坚持地
参考例句:
  • Still Rhett did not look at her. His eyes were bent insistently on Melanie's white face. 瑞德还是看也不看她,他的眼睛死死地盯着媚兰苍白的脸。
  • These are the questions which we should think and explore insistently. 怎样实现这一主体性等问题仍要求我们不断思考、探索。
63 plantation oOWxz     
n.种植园,大农场
参考例句:
  • His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
  • The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。
64 gravel s6hyT     
n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石
参考例句:
  • We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
  • More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。
65 gallop MQdzn     
v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔;飞速发展
参考例句:
  • They are coming at a gallop towards us.他们正朝着我们飞跑过来。
  • The horse slowed to a walk after its long gallop.那匹马跑了一大阵后慢下来缓步而行。
66 collapsed cwWzSG     
adj.倒塌的
参考例句:
  • Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
  • The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。
67 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。
68 crumpled crumpled     
adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire. 她把那封信揉成一团扔进了火里。
  • She flattened out the crumpled letter on the desk. 她在写字台上把皱巴巴的信展平。
69 laboring 2749babc1b2a966d228f9122be56f4cb     
n.劳动,操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转
参考例句:
  • The young man who said laboring was beneath his dignity finally put his pride in his pocket and got a job as a kitchen porter. 那个说过干活儿有失其身份的年轻人最终只能忍辱,做了厨房搬运工的工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • But this knowledge did not keep them from laboring to save him. 然而,这并不妨碍她们尽力挽救他。 来自飘(部分)
70 outspoken 3mIz7v     
adj.直言无讳的,坦率的,坦白无隐的
参考例句:
  • He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
  • She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。
71 sneak vr2yk     
vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝);偷偷摸摸做;n.潜行;adj.暗中进行
参考例句:
  • He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
  • I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。
72 shameful DzzwR     
adj.可耻的,不道德的
参考例句:
  • It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己,真不害臊。
  • We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。
73 trotted 6df8e0ef20c10ef975433b4a0456e6e1     
小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走
参考例句:
  • She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
  • Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。
74 bland dW1zi     
adj.淡而无味的,温和的,无刺激性的
参考例句:
  • He eats bland food because of his stomach trouble.他因胃病而吃清淡的食物。
  • This soup is too bland for me.这汤我喝起来偏淡。
75 bluffing bluffing     
n. 威吓,唬人 动词bluff的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • I don't think he'll shoot—I think he's just bluffing. 我认为他不会开枪—我想他不过是在吓唬人。
  • He says he'll win the race, but he's only bluffing. 他说他会赢得这场比赛,事实上只是在吹牛。
76 squeak 4Gtzo     
n.吱吱声,逃脱;v.(发出)吱吱叫,侥幸通过;(俚)告密
参考例句:
  • I don't want to hear another squeak out of you!我不想再听到你出声!
  • We won the game,but it was a narrow squeak.我们打赢了这场球赛,不过是侥幸取胜。
77 squad 4G1zq     
n.班,小队,小团体;vt.把…编成班或小组
参考例句:
  • The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
  • A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。
78 lumber a8Jz6     
n.木材,木料;v.以破旧东西堆满;伐木;笨重移动
参考例句:
  • The truck was sent to carry lumber.卡车被派出去运木材。
  • They slapped together a cabin out of old lumber.他们利用旧木料草草地盖起了一间小屋。
79 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。
80 bristling tSqyl     
a.竖立的
参考例句:
  • "Don't you question Miz Wilkes' word,'said Archie, his beard bristling. "威尔克斯太太的话,你就不必怀疑了。 "阿尔奇说。他的胡子也翘了起来。
  • You were bristling just now. 你刚才在发毛。
81 muffled fnmzel     
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己)
参考例句:
  • muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
  • There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
82 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。
83 monotonous FwQyJ     
adj.单调的,一成不变的,使人厌倦的
参考例句:
  • She thought life in the small town was monotonous.她觉得小镇上的生活单调而乏味。
  • His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.他的文章千篇一律,一个调调儿。
84 hoarse 5dqzA     
adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的
参考例句:
  • He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
  • He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动,嗓子都喊哑了。
85 labors 8e0b4ddc7de5679605be19f4398395e1     
v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转
参考例句:
  • He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors. 他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜,令人生厌。 来自辞典例句
  • Farm labors used to hire themselves out for the summer. 农业劳动者夏季常去当雇工。 来自辞典例句
86 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。
87 professed 7151fdd4a4d35a0f09eaf7f0f3faf295     
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的
参考例句:
  • These, at least, were their professed reasons for pulling out of the deal. 至少这些是他们自称退出这宗交易的理由。
  • Her manner professed a gaiety that she did not feel. 她的神态显出一种她并未实际感受到的快乐。
88 riddle WCfzw     
n.谜,谜语,粗筛;vt.解谜,给…出谜,筛,检查,鉴定,非难,充满于;vi.出谜
参考例句:
  • The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
  • Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。
89 wailed e27902fd534535a9f82ffa06a5b6937a     
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句
90 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃
参考例句:
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着:“这孩子脑袋真长。”
91 assailed cca18e858868e1e5479e8746bfb818d6     
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对
参考例句:
  • He was assailed with fierce blows to the head. 他的头遭到猛烈殴打。
  • He has been assailed by bad breaks all these years. 这些年来他接二连三地倒霉。 来自《用法词典》
92 blurred blurred     
v.(使)变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 );(使)难以区分;模模糊糊;迷离
参考例句:
  • She suffered from dizziness and blurred vision. 她饱受头晕目眩之苦。
  • Their lazy, blurred voices fell pleasantly on his ears. 他们那种慢吞吞、含糊不清的声音在他听起来却很悦耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
93 curt omjyx     
adj.简短的,草率的
参考例句:
  • He gave me an extremely curt answer.他对我作了极为草率的答复。
  • He rapped out a series of curt commands.他大声发出了一连串简短的命令。
94 shrill EEize     
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫
参考例句:
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
95 butt uSjyM     
n.笑柄;烟蒂;枪托;臀部;v.用头撞或顶
参考例句:
  • The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
  • He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。
96 venom qLqzr     
n.毒液,恶毒,痛恨
参考例句:
  • The snake injects the venom immediately after biting its prey.毒蛇咬住猎物之后马上注入毒液。
  • In fact,some components of the venom may benefit human health.事实上,毒液的某些成分可能有益于人类健康。
97 intoxicated 350bfb35af86e3867ed55bb2af85135f     
喝醉的,极其兴奋的
参考例句:
  • She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
  • They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉,东南西北全然不辨。
98 garrison uhNxT     
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防
参考例句:
  • The troops came to the relief of the besieged garrison.军队来援救被围的守备军。
  • The German was moving to stiffen up the garrison in Sicily.德军正在加强西西里守军之力量。
99 mumbled 3855fd60b1f055fa928ebec8bcf3f539     
含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话,可我没太听清楚。
  • George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
100 punctuated 7bd3039c345abccc3ac40a4e434df484     
v.(在文字中)加标点符号,加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 );不时打断某事物
参考例句:
  • Her speech was punctuated by bursts of applause. 她的讲演不时被阵阵掌声打断。
  • The audience punctuated his speech by outbursts of applause. 听众不时以阵阵掌声打断他的讲话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
101 ascended ea3eb8c332a31fe6393293199b82c425     
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
102 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。
103 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
参考例句:
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
104 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。
105 sergeant REQzz     
n.警官,中士
参考例句:
  • His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
  • How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹?
106 gutter lexxk     
n.沟,街沟,水槽,檐槽,贫民窟
参考例句:
  • There's a cigarette packet thrown into the gutter.阴沟里有个香烟盒。
  • He picked her out of the gutter and made her a great lady.他使她脱离贫苦生活,并成为贵妇。
107 dabbing 0af3ac3dccf99cc3a3e030e7d8b1143a     
石面凿毛,灰泥抛毛
参考例句:
  • She was crying and dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. 她一边哭一边用手绢轻按眼睛。
  • Huei-fang was leaning against a willow, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. 四小姐蕙芳正靠在一棵杨柳树上用手帕揉眼睛。 来自子夜部分
108 belle MQly5     
n.靓女
参考例句:
  • She was the belle of her Sunday School class.在主日学校她是她们班的班花。
  • She was the belle of the ball.她是那个舞会中的美女。
109 abashed szJzyQ     
adj.窘迫的,尴尬的v.使羞愧,使局促,使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He glanced at Juliet accusingly and she looked suitably abashed. 他怪罪的一瞥,朱丽叶自然显得很窘。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The girl was abashed by the laughter of her classmates. 那小姑娘因同学的哄笑而局促不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
110 champagne iwBzh3     
n.香槟酒;微黄色
参考例句:
  • There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
  • They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。
111 savagely 902f52b3c682f478ddd5202b40afefb9     
adv. 野蛮地,残酷地
参考例句:
  • The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。
  • He snarled savagely at her. 他向她狂吼起来。
112 perspiring 0818633761fb971685d884c4c363dad6     
v.出汗,流汗( perspire的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活,身上大汗淋漓的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. 于是他们就“痛痛快快地比一比”了,结果比得两个人气喘吁吁、汗流浃背。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
113 growled 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3     
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说
参考例句:
  • \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
114 grunt eeazI     
v.嘟哝;作呼噜声;n.呼噜声,嘟哝
参考例句:
  • He lifted the heavy suitcase with a grunt.他咕噜着把沉重的提箱拎了起来。
  • I ask him what he think,but he just grunt.我问他在想什麽,他只哼了一声。
115 morosely faead8f1a0f6eff59213b7edce56a3dc     
adv.愁眉苦脸地,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • Everybody, thought Scarlett, morosely, except me. 思嘉郁郁不乐地想。除了我,人人都去了。 来自飘(部分)
  • He stared at her morosely. 他愁容满面地看着她。 来自辞典例句
116 retirement TWoxH     
n.退休,退职
参考例句:
  • She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
  • I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。
117 embroidery Wjkz7     
n.绣花,刺绣;绣制品
参考例句:
  • This exquisite embroidery won people's great admiration.这件精美的绣品,使人惊叹不已。
  • This is Jane's first attempt at embroidery.这是简第一次试着绣花。
118 hooded hooded     
adj.戴头巾的;有罩盖的;颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的
参考例句:
  • A hooded figure waited in the doorway. 一个戴兜帽的人在门口等候。
  • Black-eyed gipsy girls, hooded in showy handkerchiefs, sallied forth to tell fortunes. 黑眼睛的吉卜赛姑娘,用华丽的手巾包着头,突然地闯了进来替人算命。 来自辞典例句
119 anguished WzezLl     
adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式)
参考例句:
  • Desmond eyed her anguished face with sympathy. 看着她痛苦的脸,德斯蒙德觉得理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The loss of her husband anguished her deeply. 她丈夫的死亡使她悲痛万分。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
120 reassuringly YTqxW     
ad.安心,可靠
参考例句:
  • He patted her knee reassuringly. 他轻拍她的膝盖让她放心。
  • The doctor smiled reassuringly. 医生笑了笑,让人心里很踏实。
121 forerunners 5365ced34e1aafb25807c289c4f2259d     
n.先驱( forerunner的名词复数 );开路人;先兆;前兆
参考例句:
  • Country music was undoubtedly one of the forerunners of rock and roll. 乡村音乐无疑是摇滚乐的先导之一。
  • Heavy clouds are the forerunners of a storm. 阴云密布是暴风雨的前兆。 来自《简明英汉词典》
122 creek 3orzL     
n.小溪,小河,小湾
参考例句:
  • He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
  • People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
123 jeering fc1aba230f7124e183df8813e5ff65ea     
adj.嘲弄的,揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Hecklers interrupted her speech with jeering. 捣乱分子以嘲笑打断了她的讲话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He interrupted my speech with jeering. 他以嘲笑打断了我的讲话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
124 seeped 7b1463dbca7bf67e984ebe1b96df8fef     
v.(液体)渗( seep的过去式和过去分词 );渗透;渗出;漏出
参考例句:
  • The rain seeped through the roof. 雨水透过房顶渗透。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Icy air seeped in through the paper and the room became cold. 寒气透过了糊窗纸。屋里骤然冷起来。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
125 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。
126 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
127 grunted f18a3a8ced1d857427f2252db2abbeaf     
(猪等)作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 ); (指人)发出类似的哼声; 咕哝着说
参考例句:
  • She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声,继续看书,不屑抬起头来看一眼。
  • She grunted some incomprehensible reply. 她咕噜着回答了些令人费解的话。
128 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
129 unwilling CjpwB     
adj.不情愿的
参考例句:
  • The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
  • His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。
130 swelling OUzzd     
n.肿胀
参考例句:
  • Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
  • There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。
131 dubious Akqz1     
adj.怀疑的,无把握的;有问题的,靠不住的
参考例句:
  • What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
  • He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。
132 loyalty gA9xu     
n.忠诚,忠心
参考例句:
  • She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
  • His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
133 patriotism 63lzt     
n.爱国精神,爱国心,爱国主义
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。
134 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。
135 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激,感谢
参考例句:
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
136 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
参考例句:
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
137 laconically 09acdfe4bad4e976c830505804da4d5b     
adv.简短地,简洁地
参考例句:
  • "I have a key,'said Rhett laconically, and his eyes met Melanie's evenly. "我有钥匙,"瑞德直截了当说。他和媚兰的眼光正好相遇。 来自飘(部分)
  • 'says he's sick,'said Johnnie laconically. "他说他有玻"约翰尼要理不理的说。 来自飘(部分)
138 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
139 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
140 pang OKixL     
n.剧痛,悲痛,苦闷
参考例句:
  • She experienced a sharp pang of disappointment.她经历了失望的巨大痛苦。
  • She was beginning to know the pang of disappointed love.她开始尝到了失恋的痛苦。
141 brawling mx7z9U     
n.争吵,喧嚷
参考例句:
  • They were arrested for brawling in the street. 他们因在街上打斗而遭到拘捕。
  • The officers were brawling commands. 军官们大声地喊口令。
142 zeal mMqzR     
n.热心,热情,热忱
参考例句:
  • Revolutionary zeal caught them up,and they joined the army.革命热情激励他们,于是他们从军了。
  • They worked with great zeal to finish the project.他们热情高涨地工作,以期完成这个项目。
143 bulging daa6dc27701a595ab18024cbb7b30c25     
膨胀; 凸出(部); 打气; 折皱
参考例句:
  • Her pockets were bulging with presents. 她的口袋里装满了礼物。
  • Conscious of the bulging red folder, Nim told her,"Ask if it's important." 尼姆想到那个鼓鼓囊囊的红色文件夹便告诉她:“问问是不是重要的事。”


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