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Scarlett’s heart sank at the news. She had hoped against hope that something would keep Melanie Hamilton in Atlanta where she belonged, and the knowledge that even her father approved of her sweet quiet nature, so different from her own, forced her into the open.
思嘉一聽到這消息心就沉了。她曾經不顧事實地一味希望會有什么事情把媚蘭·漢密爾頓留在亞特蘭大，因為她就是那里的人呀；而且聽到連父親也完全跟她的看法相反，滿口贊賞媚蘭那文靜的稟性，這就促使她不得不攤開來談了。
“Was Ashley there, too?”
“艾希禮也在那里嗎？”
“He was.” Gerald let go of his daughter’s arm and turned, peering sharply into her face. “And if that’s why you came out here to wait for me, why didn’t you say so without beating around the bush?”
“他在那里。”杰拉爾德松開女兒的胳膊，轉過身來，用犀利的眼光凝視著她的臉。“如果你就是為了這個才出來等我的，那你為什么不直截了當說，卻要兜這么大個圈子呢？”
Scarlett could think of nothing to say, and she felt her face growing red with annoyance.
思嘉不知說什么好，只覺得心中一起紛亂，臉都漲得通紅了。
“Well, speak up.”
“好，說下去。”
Still she said nothing, wishing that it was permissible to shake one’s father and tell him to hush his mouth.
她仍是什么也不說，真希望在這種局面下能使勁搖晃自己的父親叫他閉嘴算了。
“He was there and he asked most kindly after you, as did his sisters, and said they hoped nothing would keep you from the barbecue tomorrow. I’ll warrant nothing will,” he said shrewdly. “And now, daughter, what’s all this about you and Ashley?”
“他在，并且像他的幾個妹妹那樣十分親切地問候了你，還說希望不會有什么事拖住你不去參加明天的大野宴呢。我當然向他們保證絕不會的，"他機靈地說。”現在你說，女兒，關于你和艾希禮，這到底是怎么回事呀？”
“There is nothing,” she said shortly, tugging at his arm. “Let’s go in, Pa.”
“沒什么，"她簡地答道，一面拉著他的胳臂。"爸，我們進去吧。”
“So now ‘tis you wanting to go in,” he observed. “But here I’m going to stand till I’m understanding you. Now that I think of it ‘tis strange you’ve been recently. Has he been trifling with you? Has he asked to marry you?”
“現在你倒是要進去了，"他說。”可是我還是要站在這里，直到我明白你是怎么回事。唔，我想起來了，你最近顯得有點奇怪，難道他跟你胡鬧來著？他向你求婚了嗎？”
“No,” she said shortly.
“沒有，"她簡單地回答。
“Nor will he,” said Gerald.
“他是不會的，"杰拉爾德說。
Fury flamed in her, but Gerald waved her quiet with a hand.
她心中頓時火氣，可是杰拉爾德擺了擺手，叫她平靜些。
“Hold your tongue, Miss! I had it from John Wilkes this afternoon in the strictest confidence that Ashley’s to marry Miss Melanie. It’s to be announced tomorrow.”
“姑娘！別說了，今天下午我從約翰·威爾克斯那里聽說，艾希禮千真萬確要跟媚蘭小姐結婚。明天晚上就要宣布。”
Scarlett’s hand fell from his arm. So it was true!
思嘉的手從他的胳臂上滑下來。果然是真的呀！
