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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，我也听说过，”思嘉失望说，"她的那位傻侄儿查理·汉密尔顿和霍妮·威尔克斯。这几年谁都在说他们快要结婚了，虽然他本人对这件事似乎有点不冷不热似的。”
“Do you think he’s silly?” questioned Brent. “Last Christmas you sure let him buzz round you plenty.”
“你认为他傻吗？”布伦特问。"去年圣诞节你可让他在你身边转了个够呢。”
“I couldn’t help him buzzing,” Scarlett shrugged negligently. “I think he’s an awful sissy.”
“我没法不让他转呀，”思嘉毫不在意地耸了耸肩膀。"我觉得他这个人太娘娘腔了。”
“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亲事，”斯图尔特得意地说。“那是艾希礼和查理的妹妹媚兰小姐订婚的事哩！"
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.
虽然她脸色没有变，可是嘴唇发白了。就像冷不防受到当头一击。思嘉在震动的最初几秒钟还不明白那是怎么回事。注视斯图尔特时思嘉的脸色还那么平静，以致这位毫无分析头脑的人还以为她仅仅感到惊讶和很有兴趣。
“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.”
“皮蒂小姐告诉我们，他们原准备明年才宣布订婚，因为媚兰小姐近来身体不怎么好；可周围都在谈论战争，两家人都觉得不如赶快成婚的好。所以决定明天晚上在宴会上宣布。我们把秘密告诉你了，你看，思嘉，你也得答应跟我们一起吃晚饭呀。”
“Of course I will,” Scarlett said automatically.
“当然，我会的。"思嘉下意识地说。
“And all the waltzes?”
“All.”
“并且跳所有的华尔兹吗？”
“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！我敢打赌，别的小伙子们准要疯了。”“让他们去发疯好了，”布伦特说。“我们俩能对付他们的。瞧瞧吧，思嘉。明天上午的野宴也跟我们坐在一起好吗？”
Stuart repeated his request.
“Of course.”
“什么？”斯图尔特将请求重复了一遍。
“当然。”
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.
哥儿俩心里美滋滋的但也有些惊异。尽管他们把自己看做思喜所嘉许的追求者，但以前他们从没这么轻易得到过这一嘉许的表示。她经常只让他们倾诉、乞求，敷衍他们，不明确表示可否，他们烦恼时便报以笑颜，他们发怒时则略显冷淡。但现在她实际上已经把明天全部的活动都许给了他们--答应野宴时跟他们坐在一起，跟他们跳所有的华尔兹（而且他们决意要使每一个舞都是华尔兹！），并且一道吃晚饭。就为这些，被大学开除也是值得的。
