Унесенные ветром

           "Ah,ha!"cameGerald’svoice."So,Iunderstand!ThentheworthyJonassiredthe—"

           "Hemustbedismissed."

           "So,heisthefatherofEmmieSlattery’sbaby,"thoughtScarlett."Oh,well,whatelsecanyouexpectfromaYankeemanandawhite-trashgirl?"

           Then,afteradiscreetpausewhichgaveGerald’ssplutteringstimetodieaway,sheknockedonthedoorandhandedthedresstohermother.

           BythetimeScarletthadundressedandblownoutthecandle,herplanfortomorrowhadworkeditselfoutineverydetail.Itwasasimpleplan,for,withGerald’ssingle-mindednessofpurpose,hereyeswerecenteredonthegoalandshethoughtonlyofthemostdirectstepsbywhichtoreachit.

           First,shewouldbe"prideful,"asGeraldhadcommanded.FromthemomentshearrivedatTwelveOaks,shewouldbehergayest,mostspiritedself.NoonewouldsuspectthatshehadeverbeendownheartedbecauseofAshleyandMelanie.Andshewouldflirtwitheverymanthere.ThatwouldbecrueltoAshley,butitwouldmakehimyearnforherallthemore.Shewouldn’toverlookamanofmarriageableage,fromginger-whiskeredoldFrankKennedy,whowasSuellen’sbeau,ondowntoshy,quiet,blushingCharlesHamilton,Melanie’sbrother.Theywouldswarmaroundherlikebeesaroundahive,andcertainlyAshleywouldbedrawnfromMelanietojointhecircleofheradmirers.Thensomehowshewouldmaneuvertogetafewminutesalonewithhim,awayfromthecrowd.Shehopedeverythingwouldworkoutthatway,becauseitwouldbemoredifficultotherwise.ButifAshleydidn’tmakethefirstmove,shewouldsimplyhavetodoitherself.