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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.
思嘉一听到这消息心就沉了。她曾经不顾事实地一味希望会有什么事情把媚兰·汉密尔顿留在亚特兰大，因为她就是那里的人呀；而且听到连父亲也完全跟她的看法相反，满口赞赏媚兰那文静的禀性，这就促使她不得不摊开来谈了。
“Was Ashley there, too?”
“艾希礼也在那里吗？”
“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。”杰拉尔德松开女儿的胳膊，转过身来，用犀利的眼光凝视着她的脸。“如果你就是为了这个才出来等我的，那你为什么不直截了当说，却要兜这么大个圈子呢？”
Scarlett could think of nothing to say, and she felt her face growing red with annoyance.
思嘉不知说什么好，只觉得心中一起纷乱，脸都涨得通红了。
“Well, speak up.”
“好，说下去。”
Still she said nothing, wishing that it was permissible to shake one’s father and tell him to hush his mouth.
她仍是什么也不说，真希望在这种局面下能使劲摇晃自己的父亲叫他闭嘴算了。
“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，并且像他的几个妹妹那样十分亲切地问候了你，还说希望不会有什么事拖住你不去参加明天的大野宴呢。我当然向他们保证绝不会的，"他机灵地说。”现在你说，女儿，关于你和艾希礼，这到底是怎么回事呀？”
“There is nothing,” she said shortly, tugging at his arm. “Let’s go in, Pa.”
“没什么，"她简地答道，一面拉着他的胳臂。"爸，我们进去吧。”
“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?”
“现在你倒是要进去了，"他说。”可是我还是要站在这里，直到我明白你是怎么回事。唔，我想起来了，你最近显得有点奇怪，难道他跟你胡闹来着？他向你求婚了吗？”
“No,” she said shortly.
“没有，"她简单地回答。
“Nor will he,” said Gerald.
“他是不会的，"杰拉尔德说。
Fury flamed in her, but Gerald waved her quiet with a hand.
她心中顿时火气，可是杰拉尔德摆了摆手，叫她平静些。
“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！别说了，今天下午我从约翰·威尔克斯那里听说，艾希礼千真万确要跟媚兰小姐结婚。明天晚上就要宣布。”
Scarlett’s hand fell from his arm. So it was true!
思嘉的手从他的胳臂上滑下来。果然是真的呀！
