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“Oh, I know about that,” said Scarlett in disappointment. “That silly nephew of hers, Charlie Hamilton, and Honey Wilkes. Everybody’s known for years that they’d get married some time, even if he did seem kind of lukewarm about it.”
“唔，我也聽說過，”思嘉失望說，"她的那位傻侄兒查理·漢密爾頓和霍妮·威爾克斯。這幾年誰都在說他們快要結婚了，雖然他本人對這件事似乎有點不冷不熱似的。”
“Do you think he’s silly?” questioned Brent. “Last Christmas you sure let him buzz round you plenty.”
“你認為他傻嗎？”布倫特問。"去年圣誕節你可讓他在你身邊轉了個夠呢。”
“I couldn’t help him buzzing,” Scarlett shrugged negligently. “I think he’s an awful sissy.”
“我沒法不讓他轉呀，”思嘉毫不在意地聳了聳肩膀。"我覺得他這個人太娘娘腔了。”
“Besides, it isn’t his engagement that’s going to be announced,” said Stuart triumphantly. “It’s Ashley’s to Charlie’s sister, Miss Melanie!”
“但是，明晚要宣布的并不是他的親事，”斯圖爾特得意地說。“那是艾希禮和查理的妹妹媚蘭小姐訂婚的事哩！"
Scarlett’s face did not change but her lips went white—like a person who has received a stunning blow without warning and who, in the first moments of shock, does not realize what has happened. So still was her face as she stared at Stuart that he, never analytic, took it for granted that she was merely surprised and very interested.
雖然她臉色沒有變，可是嘴唇發白了。就像冷不防受到當頭一擊。思嘉在震動的最初幾秒鐘還不明白那是怎么回事。注視斯圖爾特時思嘉的臉色還那么平靜，以致這位毫無分析頭腦的人還以為她僅僅感到驚訝和很有興趣。
“Miss Pitty told us they hadn’t intended announcing it till next year, because Miss Melly hasn’t been very well; but with all the war talk going around, everybody in both families thought it would be better to get married soon. So it’s to be announced tomorrow night at the supper intermission. Now, Scarlett, we’ve told you the secret, so you’ve got to promise to eat supper with us.”
“皮蒂小姐告訴我們，他們原準備明年才宣布訂婚，因為媚蘭小姐近來身體不怎么好；可周圍都在談論戰爭，兩家人都覺得不如趕快成婚的好。所以決定明天晚上在宴會上宣布。我們把秘密告訴你了，你看，思嘉，你也得答應跟我們一起吃晚飯呀。”
“Of course I will,” Scarlett said automatically.
“當然，我會的。"思嘉下意識地說。
“And all the waltzes?”
“All.”
“并且跳所有的華爾茲嗎？”
“所有的。”
“You’re sweet! I’ll bet the other boys will be hopping mad.”
“Let ‘em be mad,” said Brent. “We two can handle ‘em. Look, Scarlett. Sit with us at the barbecue in the morning.”
“What?”
“你真好！我敢打賭，別的小伙子們準要瘋了。”“讓他們去發瘋好了，”布倫特說。“我們倆能對付他們的。瞧瞧吧，思嘉。明天上午的野宴也跟我們坐在一起好嗎？”
Stuart repeated his request.
“Of course.”
“什么？”斯圖爾特將請求重復了一遍。
“當然。”
The twins looked at each other jubilantly but with some surprise. Although they considered themselves Scarlett’s favored suitors, they had never before gained tokens of this favor so easily. Usually she made them beg and plead, while she put them off, refusing to give a Yes or No answer, laughing if they sulked, growing cool if they became angry. And here she had practically promised them the whole of tomorrow—seats by her at the barbecue, all the waltzes (and they’d see to it that the dances were all waltzes!) and the supper intermission. This was worth getting expelled from the university.
哥兒倆心里美滋滋的但也有些驚異。盡管他們把自己看做思喜所嘉許的追求者，但以前他們從沒這么輕易得到過這一嘉許的表示。她經常只讓他們傾訴、乞求，敷衍他們，不明確表示可否，他們煩惱時便報以笑顏，他們發怒時則略顯冷淡。但現在她實際上已經把明天全部的活動都許給了他們--答應野宴時跟他們坐在一起，跟他們跳所有的華爾茲（而且他們決意要使每一個舞都是華爾茲！），并且一道吃晚飯。就為這些，被大學開除也是值得的。
