there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that bonnie butler was running wild and needed afirm hand but she was so general a favorite that no one had the heart to attempt the necessaryfirmness. she had first gotten out of control the months when she traveled with her father. whenshe had been with rhett in new orleans and charleston she had been permitted to sit up as late asshe pleased and had gone to sleep in his arms in theaters, restaurants and at card tables. thereafter,nothing short of force would make her go to bed at the same time as the obedient ella. while shehad been away with him, rhett had let her wear any dress she chose and, since that time, she hadgone into tantrums when mammy tried to dress her in dimity frocks and pinafores instead of bluetaffeta and lace collars.

there seemed no way to regain the ground which had been lost when the child was away fromhome and later when scarlett had been ill and at tara. as bonnie grew older scarlett tried todiscipline her, tried to keep her from becoming too headstrong and spoiled, but with little success.

rhett always sided with the child, no matter how foolish her desires or how outrageous herbehavior. he encouraged her to talk and treated her as an adult, listening to her opinions withapparent seriousness and pretending to be guided by them. as a result, bonnie interrupted herelders whenever she pleased and contradicted her father and put him in his place. he only laughedand would not permit scarlett even to slap the little girl’s hand by way of reprimand.

“if she wasn’t such a sweet, darling thing, she’d be impossible,” thought scarlett ruefully,realizing that she had a child with a will equal to her own. “she adores rhett and he could makeher behave better if he wanted to.”

but rhett showed no inclination to make bonnie behave. whatever she did was right and if shewanted the moon she could have it, if he could reach it for her. his pride in her beauty, her curls,her dimples, her graceful little gestures was boundless. he loved her pertness, her high spirits andthe quaint sweet manner she had of showing her love for him. for all her spoiled and willful waysshe was such a lovable child that he lacked the heart to try to curb her. he was her god, the centerof her small world, and that was too precious for him to risk losing by reprimands.

she clung to him like a shadow. she woke him earlier than he cared to wake, sat beside him atthe table, eating alternately from his plate and her own, rode in front of him on his horse andpermitted no one but rhett to undress her and put her to sleep in the small bed beside his.

it amused and touched scarlett to see the iron hand with which her small child ruled her father.

who would have thought that rhett, of all people, would take fatherhood so seriously? butsometimes a dart of jealousy went through scarlett because bonnie, at the age of four, understoodrhett better than she had ever understood him and could manage him better than she had evermanaged him.

when bonnie was four years old, mammy began to grumble about the impropriety of a girlchild riding “a-straddle in front of her pa wid her dress flyin’ up.” rhett lent an attentive ear to thisremark, as he did to all mammy’s remarks about the proper raising of little girls. the result was asmall brown and white shetland pony with a long silky mane and tail and a tiny sidesaddle withsilver trimmings. ostensibly the pony was for all three children and rhett bought a saddle forwade too. but wade infinitely preferred his st. bernard dog and ella was afraid of all animals. sothe pony became bonnie’s own and was named “mr. butler.” the only flaw in bonnie’s possessivejoy was that she could not still ride astride like her father, but after he had explained how muchmore difficult it was to ride on the sidesaddle, she was content and learned rapidly. rhett’s pride inher good seat and her good hands was enormous.

“wait till she’s old enough to hunt,” he boasted. there’ll be no one like her on any field. i’ll takeher to virginia then. that’s where the real hunting is. and kentucky where they appreciate goodriders.”

when it came to making her riding habit, as usual she had her choice of colors and as usualchose blue.

“but, my darling! not that blue velvet! the blue velvet is for a party dress for me,” laughedscarlett. “a nice black broadcloth is what little girls wear.” seeing the small black brows comingtogether: “for heaven’s sake, rhett, tell her how unsuitable it would be and how dirty it will get.”

“oh, let her have the blue velvet. if it gets dirty, we’ll make her another one,” said rhett easily.

so bonnie had her blue velvet habit with a skirt that trailed down the pony’s side and a black hatwith a red plume in it, because aunt melly’s stories of jeb stuart’s plume had appealed to herimagination. on days that were bright and dear the two could be seen riding down peachtreestreet, rhett reining in his big black horse to keep pace with the fat pony’s gait. sometimes theywent tearing down the quiet roads about the town, scattering chickens and dogs and children,bonnie beating mr. butler with her crop, her tangled curls flying, rhett holding in his horse with afirm hand that she might think mr. butler was winning the race.

when he had assured himself of her seat, her hands, her utter fearlessness, rhett decided that thetime had come for her to learn to make the low jumps that were within the reach of mr. butler’sshort legs. to this end, he built a hurdle in the back yard and paid wash, one of uncle peter’s smallnephews, twenty-five cents a day to teach mr. butler to jump. he began with a bar two inches fromthe ground and gradually worked up the height to a foot.

this arrangement met with the disapproval of the three parties concerned, wash, mr. butler andbonnie. wash was afraid of horses and only the princely sum offered induced him to take thestubborn pony over the bar dozens of times a day; mr. butler, who bore with equanimity havinghis tail pulled by his small mistress and his hooves examined constantly, felt that the creator ofponies had not intended him to put his fat body over the bar; bonnie, who could not bear to seeanyone else upon her pony, danced with impatience while mr. butler was learning his lessons.

when rhett finally decided that the pony knew his business well enough to trust bonnie uponhim, the child’s excitement was boundless. she made her first jump with flying colors and,thereafter, riding abroad with her father held no charms for her. scarlett could not help laughing atthe pride and enthusiasm of father and daughter. she thought, however, that once the novelty hadpassed, bonnie would turn to other things and the neighborhood would have some peace. but thissport did not pall. there was a bare track worn from the arbor at the far end of the yard to thehurdle, and all morning long the yard resounded with excited yells. grandpa merriwether, who hadmade the overland trip in 1849, said that the yells sounded just like an apache after a successfulscalping.

after the first week, bonnie begged for a higher bar, a bar that was a foot and a half from theground.

“when you are six years old,” said rhett. “then you’ll be big enough for a higher jump and i’llbuy you a bigger horse. mr. butler’s legs aren’t long enough.”

“they are, too, i jumped aunt melly’s rose bushes and they are ‘normously high!”

“no, you must wait,” said rhett, firm for once. but the firmness gradually faded away beforeher incessant importunings and tantrums.

“oh, all right,” he said with a laugh one morning and moved the narrow white cross bar higher.

“if you fall off, don’t cry and blame me!”

“mother!” screamed bonnie, turning her head up toward scarlett’s bedroom. “mother! watchme! daddy says i can!”

scarlett, who was combing her hair, came to the window and smiled down at the tiny excitedfigure, so absurd in the soiled blue habit.

“i really must get her another habit,” she thought. “though heaven only knows how i’ll makeher give up that dirty one.”

“mother, watch!”

“i’m watching dear,” said scarlett smiling.

as rhett lifted the child and set her on the pony, scarlett called with a swift rush of pride at thestraight back and the proud set of the head, “you’re mighty pretty, precious!”

“so are you,” said bonnie generously and, hammering a heel into mr. butler’s ribs, she gallopeddown the yard toward the arbor.

“mother, watch me take this one!” she cried, laying on the crop.

watch me take this one!

memory rang a bell far back in scarlett’s mind. there was something ominous about thosewords. what was it? why couldn’t she remember? she looked down at her small daughter, solightly poised on the galloping pony and her brow wrinkled as a chill swept swiftly through herbreast. bonnie came on with a rush, her crisp black curls jerking, her blue eyes blazing.

“they are like pa’s eyes,” thought scarlett, “irish blue eyes and she’s just like him in everyway.”

and, as she thought of gerald, the memory for which she had been rumbling came to herswiftly, came with the heart stopping clarity of summer lightning, throwing, for an instant, a wholecountryside into unnatural brightness. she could hear an irish voice singing, hear the hard rapidpounding of hooves coming up the pasture hill at tara, hear a reckless voice, so like the voice ofher child: “ellen! watch me take this one!”

“no!” she cried. “no! oh, bonnie, stop!”

even as she leaned from the window there was a fearful sound of splintering wood, a hoarse cryfrom rhett, a melee of blue velvet and flying hooves on the ground. then mr. butler scrambled tohis feet and trotted off with an empty saddle.

on the third night after bonnie’s death, mammy waddled slowly up the kitchen steps ofmelanie’s house. she was dressed in black from her huge men’s shoes, slashed to permit freedomfor her toes, to her black head rag. her blurred old eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed, and miserycried out in every line of her mountainous figure. her face was puckered in the sadbewilderment of an old ape but there was determination in her jaw.

she spoke a few soft words to dilcey who nodded kindly, as though an unspoken armisticeexisted in their old feud. dilcey put down the supper dishes she was holding and went quietlythrough the pantry toward the dining room. in a minute melanie was in the kitchen, her tablenapkin in her hand, anxiety in her face.

“miss scarlet isn’t—”

“miss scarlett bearin’ up, same as allus,” said mammy heavily. “ah din’ ten ter ‘sturb yo’

supper, miss melly. ah kin wait tell you thoo ter tell you whut ah got on mah mine.”

“supper can wait,” said melanie. “dilcey, serve the rest of the supper. mammy, come with me.”

mammy waddled after her, down the hall past the dining room where ashley sat at the head ofthe table, his own little beau beside him and scarlett’s two children opposite, pairing a great clatterwith their soup spoons. the happy voices of wade and ella filled the room. it was like a picnic forthem to spend so long a visit with aunt melly. aunt melly was always so kind and she was especially so now. the death of their younger sister had affected them very little. bonnie had fallenoff her pony and mother had cried a long time and aunt melly had taken them home with her toplay in the back yard with beau and have tea cakes whenever they wanted them.

melanie led the way to the small book-lined sitting room, shut the door and motioned mammyto the sofa.

“i was going over right after supper,” she said. “now that captain butler’s mother has come, isuppose the funeral will be tomorrow morning.”

“de fune’l. dat’s jes’ it,” said mammy. “miss melly, we’s all in deep trouble an’ ah’s come teryou fer he’p. ain’ nuthin’ but weery load, honey, nuthin’ but weery load.”

“has miss scarlett collapsed?” questioned melanie worriedly. “i’ve hardly seen her sincebonnie— she has been in her room and captain butler has been out of the house and—”

suddenly tears began to flow down mammy’s black face. melanie sat down beside her andpatted her arm and, after a moment, mammy lifted the hem of her black skirt and dried her eyes.

“you got ter come he’p us, miss melly. ah done de bes’ah kin but it doan do no good.”

“miss scarlett—”

mammy straightened.

“miss melly, you knows miss scarlett well’s ah does. whut dat chile got ter stan’, de goodlawd give her strent ter stan’. disyere done broke her heart but she kin stan’ it. it’s mist’ rhett ahcome ‘bout.”

“i have so wanted to see him but whenever i’ve been there, he has either been downtown orlocked in his room with— and scarlett has looked like a ghost and wouldn’t speak— tell mequickly, mammy. you know i’ll help if i can.”

mammy wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “ah say miss scarlett kin stan’ whut de lawdsen’, kase she done had ter stan’ a-plen’y, but mist’ rhett— miss melly, he ain’ never had ter stan’

nuthin’ he din’ wanter stan’, not nuthin’. it’s him ah come ter see you ‘bout.”

“but—”

“miss melly, you got ter come home wid me, dis evenin’.” there was urgency in mammy’svoice. “maybe mist’ rhett lissen ter you. he allus did think a heap of yo’ ‘pinion.”

“oh, mammy, what is it? what do you mean?”

mammy squared her shoulders.

“miss melly, mist’ rhett done—done los’ his mine. he woan let us put lil miss away.”

“lost his mind? oh, mammy, no!”

“ah ain’ lyin’. it’s de gawd’s truff. he ain’ gwine let us buhy dat chile. he done tole me sohisseff, not mo’n an hour ago.”

“but he can’t—he isn’t—”

“dat’s huccome ah say he los’ his mine.”

“but why—”

“miss melly, ah tell you everything. ah oughtn’ tell nobody, but you is our fambly an’ you is deonlies’ one ah kin tell. ah tell you eve’ything. you knows whut a sto’ he set by dat chile. ah ain’

never seed no man, black or w’ite, set sech a sto’ by any chile. look lak he go plumb crazy w’endoctah meade say her neck broke. he grab his gun an’ he run right out an’ shoot dat po’ pony an’,fo’ gawd, ah think he gwine shoot hisseff. ah wuz plumb ‘stracted whut wid miss scarlett in aswoon an’ all de neighbors in an’ outer de house an’ mist’ rhett cahyin’ on an’ jes’ holin’ dat chilean’ not even lettin’ me wash her lil face whar de grabble cut it. an’ w’en miss scarlett come to, ahthink, bress gawd! now dey kin comfo’t each other.”

again the tears began to fall but this time mammy did not even wipe them away.

“but w’en she come to, she go inter de room whar he setin’, holin’ miss bonnie, an’ she say:

‘gimme mah baby whut you kilt.’ ”

“oh, no! she couldn’t!”

“yas’m. dat whut she say. she say: ‘you kilt her.’ an’ ah felt so sorry fer mist’ rhett ah bustout cryin’, kase he look lak a whup houn’. an’ ah say: ‘give dat chile ter its mammy. ah ain’

gwine have no sech goin’s on over mah lil miss.’ an’ ah tek de chile away frum him an’ tek herinter her room an’ wash her face. an’ ah hear dem talkin’ an’ it lak ter tuhn mah blood cole, whutdey say. miss scarlett wuz callin’ him a mudderer fer lettin’ her try ter jump dat high, an’ himsayin’ miss scarlett hadn’ never keered nuthin’ ‘bout miss bonnie nor none of her chillun. ...”

“stop, mammy! don’t tell me any more. it isn’t right for you to tell me this!” cried melanie, hermind shrinking away from the picture mammy’s words evoked.

“ah knows ah got no bizness tellin’ you, but mah heart too full ter know jes’ whut not ter say.

den he tuck her ter de unnertaker’s hisseff an’ he bring her back an’ he put her in her baid in hisroom. an’ w’en miss scarlett say she b’long in de pahlor in de coffin, ah thought mist’ rhettgwine hit her. an’ he say, right cole lak: ‘she b’long in mah room.’ an’ he tuhn ter me an’ he say:

‘mammy, you se dat she stay right hyah tell ah gits back.’ den he light outer de house on de hawsean’ he wuz gone tell ‘bout sundown. w’en he come t’arin’ home, ah seed dat he’d been drinkin’

an’ drinkin’ heavy, but he wuz cahyin’ it well’s usual. he fling inter de house an’ not even speak termiss scarlett or miss pitty or any of de ladies as wuz callin’, but he fly up de steps an’ th’ow opende do’ of his room an’ den he yell for me. w’en ah comes runnin’ as fas’ as ah kin, he wuz stan’in’

by de baid an’ it wuz so dahk in de room ah couldn’ sceercely see him, kase de shutters wuz donedrawed.

“an’ he say ter me, right fierce lak: ‘open dem shutters. it’s dahk in hyah.’ an’ ah fling demopen an’ he look at me an’, fo’ gawd, miss melly, mah knees ‘bout give way, kase he look sostrange. den he say: bring lights. bring lots of lights. an’ keep dem buhnin’. an’ doan draw noshades an’ no shutters. doan you know miss bonnie’s fraid of de dahk?”

melanie’s horror struck eyes met mammy’s and mammy nodded ominously.

“dat’s whut he say. ‘miss bonnie’s ‘fraid of de dahk.’ ”

mammy shivered.

“w’en ah gits him a dozen candles, he say ‘git!’ an’ den he lock de do’ an’ dar he set wid lilmiss, an’ he din’ open de do’ fer miss scarlett even w’en she beat an’ hollered ter him. an’ dat’s deway it been fer two days. he woan say nuthin’ ‘bout de fune’l, an’ in de mawnin’ he lock de do’ an’

git on his hawse an’ go off ter town. an’ he come back at sundown drunk an’ lock hisseff in agin,an’ he ain’ et nuthin’ or slept none. an’ now his ma, ole miss butler, she come frum cha’ston ferde fune’l an’ miss suellen an’ mist’ will, dey come frum tara, but mist’ rhett woan talk ter noneof dem. oh, miss melly, it been awful! an’ it’s gwine be wuss, an’ folks gwine talk sumpin’

scanlous.

“an’ den, dis evenin’,” mammy paused and again wiped her nose on her hand. “dis evenin’

miss scarlett ketch him in de upstairs hall w’en he come in, an’ she go in de room wid him an’ shesay: ‘de fune’l set fer termorrer mawnin’.’an’ he say: ‘do dat an’ah kills you termorrer.’ ”

“oh, he must have lost his mind!”

“yas’m. an’ den dey talks kinder low an’ ah doan hear all whut dey say, ‘cept he say agin ‘boutmiss bonnie bein’ sceered of de dahk an’ de grabe pow’ful dahk. an’ affer aw’ile, miss scarlettsay ‘you is a fine one ter tek on so, affer killin’ her ter please yo’ pride.’ an’ he say: ‘ain’ you gotno mercy?’ an’ she say: ‘no. an’ ah ain’ got no chile, needer. an’ ah’m wo’out wid de way youbeen ackin’ sence bonnie wuz kilt. you is a scan’al ter de town. you been drunk all de time an’ efyou doan think ah knows whar you been spendin’ yo’ days, you is a fool. ah knows you beendown ter dat creeter’s house, dat belle watling.’ ”

“oh, mammy, no!”

“yas’m. dat whut she said. an’, miss melly, it’s de truff. niggers knows a heap of thingsquicker dan w’ite folks, an’ ah knowed dat’s whar he been but ah ain’ said nuthin’ ‘bout it an’ hedoan deny it he say: ‘yas’m, dat’s whar ah been an’ you neen tek on, kase you doan give a damn.

a bawdy house is a haben of refuge affer dis house of hell. an’ belle is got one of de worl’s kines’

hearts. she doan th’ow it up ter me dat ah done kilt mah chile.’ ”

“oh,” cried melanie, stricken to the heart.

her own life was so pleasant, so sheltered, so wrapped about with people who loved her, so fullof kindness that what mammy told her was almost beyond comprehension or belief. yet therecrawled into her mind a memory, a picture which she hastily put from her, as she would put fromher the thought of another’s nudity. rhett had spoken of belle watling the day he cried with hishead on her knees. but he loved scarlett. she could not have been mistaken that day. and ofcourse, scarlett loved him. what had come between them? how could a husband and a wife cuteach other to pieces with such sharp knives?

mammy took up her story heavily.

“affer a w’ile, miss scarlett come outer de room, w’ite as a sheet but her jaw set, an’ she see mestan’in’ dar an’ she say: ‘de fune’l be termorrer, mammy.’ an’ she pass me by lak a ghos’. denmah heart tuhn over, kase whut miss scarlett say, she mean. an’ whut mist’ rhett say, he meantoo. an’ he say he kill her ef she do dat. ah wuz plumb ‘stracted, miss melly, kase ah done hadsumpin’ on mah conscience all de time an’ it weighin’ me down. miss melly, it wuz me as sceeredlil miss of de dahk.”

“oh, but mammy, it doesn’t matter—not now.”

“yas’m, it do. dat whut de whole trouble. an’ it come ter me ah better tell mist’ rhett even efhe kill me, kase it on mah conscience. so ah slip in de do’real quick, fo’ he kin lock it, an’ah say:

‘mist’ rhett, ah’s come ter confess.’ an’ he swung roun’ on me lak a crazy man an’ say: ‘git!’

an’, fo’ gawd, ah ain’ never been so sceered! but ah say: ‘please, suh, mist’ rhett, let me tellyou. it’s bout ter kill me. it wuz me as sceered lil miss of de dahk.’ an den, miss melly, ah putmah haid down an’ waited fer him ter hit me. but he din’ say nuthin’. an’ ah say: ‘ah din’ meanno hahm. but, mist’ rhett, dat chile din’ have no caution an’ she wuzn’ sceered of nuthin’. an’ shewuz allus gittin’ outer baid affer eve’ybody sleep an’ runnin’ roun’ de house barefoot an’ it worritme, kase ah ‘fraid she hu’t herseff. so ah tells her dar’s ghos’es an’ buggerboos in de dahk.’

“an’ den—miss melly, you know whut he done? his face got right gentle lak an’ he come terme an’ put his han’ on mah arm. dat’s de fust time he ever done dat. an’ he say: ‘she wuz sobrave, wuzn’ she? ‘cept fer de dahk, she wuzn’ sceered of nuthin’.’ an’ wen ah bust out cryin’ hesay: ‘now, mammy,’ an’ he pat me. ‘now, mammy, doan you cahy on so. ah’s glad you tole me.

ah knows you love miss bonnie an’ kase you love her, it doan matter. it’s whut de heart is datmatter.’ well’m dat kinder cheered me up, so ah ventu’ ter say: ‘mist rhett, suh, what ‘bout defune’l?’ den he tuhn on me lak a wile man an’ his eyes glitter an’ he say: ‘good gawd, ah thoughtyou’d unnerstan’ even ef nobody else din’! does you think ah’m gwine ter put mah chile away inde dahk w’en she so sceered of it? right now ah kin hear de way she uster scream w’en she wakeup in de dahk. ah ain’ gwine have her sceered.’ miss melly, den ah know he los’ his mine. hedrunk an’ he need sleep an’ sumpin’ ter eat but dat ain’ all. he plumb crazy. he jes’ push me outerde do’ an’ say: ‘git de hell outer hyah!’

“ah goes downstairs an’ ah gits ter thinkin’ dat he say dar ain’ gwine be no fune’l an’ missscarlett say it be termorrer mawnin’ an’ he say dar be shootin’. an’ all de kinfolks in de house an’

all de neighbors already gabblin’ ‘bout it lak a flock of guinea hens, an’ ah thought of you, missmelly. you got ter come he’p us.”

“oh, mammy, i couldn’t intrude!”

“ef you kain, who kin?”

“but what could i do, mammy?”

“miss melly, ah doan know. but you kin do sumpin’. you kin talk ter mist’ rhett an’ maybe helissen ter you. he set a gret sto’ by you, miss melly. maybe you doan know it, but he do. ah donehear him say time an’ agin, you is de onlies’ gret lady he knows.”

“but—”

melanie rose to her feet, confused, her heart quailing at the thought of confronting rhett. thethought of arguing with a man as grief crazed as the one mammy depicted made her go cold. thethought of entering that brightly lighted room where lay the little girl she loved so much wrung herheart. what could she do? what could she say to rhett that would ease his grief and bring himback to reason? for a moment she stood irresolute and through the closed door came the sound ofher boy’s treble laughter. like a cold knife in her heart came the thought of him dead. suppose herbeau were lying upstairs, his little body cold and still, his merry laughter hushed.

“oh,” she cried aloud, in fright, and in her mind she clutched him close to her heart. she knewhow rhett felt. if beau were dead, how could she put him away, alone with the wind and the rainand the darkness?

“oh! poor, poor captain butler!” she cried. “i’ll go to him now, right away.”

she sped back to the dining room, said a few soft words to ashley and surprised her little boy byhugging him close to her and kissing his blond curls passionately.

she left the house without a hat, her dinner napkin still clutched in her hand, and the pace she setwas hard for mammy’s old legs. once in scarlett’s front hall, she bowed briefly to the gathering inthe library, to the frightened miss pittypat, the stately old mrs. butler, will and suellen. she wentup the stairs swiftly, with mammy panting behind her. for a moment, she paused before scarlett’sclosed door but mammy hissed, “no’m, doan do dat.”

down the hall melly went, more slowly now, and stopped in front of rhett’s room. she stoodirresolutely for a moment as though she longed to take flight. then, bracing herself, like a smallsoldier going into battle, she knocked on the door and called softly: “please let me in, captainbutler. it’s mrs. wilkes. i want to see bonnie.”

the door opened quickly and mammy, shrinking back into the shadows of the hall, saw rhetthuge and dark against the blazing background of candles. he was swaying on his feet and mammycould smell the whisky on his breath. he looked down at melly for a moment and then, taking herby the arm, he pulled her into the room and shut the door.

mammy edged herself stealthily to a chair beside the door and sank into it wearily, her shapelessbody overflowing it. she sat still, weeping silently and praying. now and then she lifted the hem ofher dress and wiped her eyes. strain her ears as hard as she might, she could hear no words fromthe room, only a low broken humming sound.

after an interminable period, the door cracked open and melly’s face white and strained,appeared.

“bring me a pot of coffee, quickly, and some sandwiches.”

when the devil drove, mammy could be as swift as a lithe black sixteen-year-old and hercuriosity to get into rhett’s room made her work faster. but her hope turned to disappointmentwhen melly merely opened the door a crack and took the tray. for a long time mammy strainedher sharp ears but she could distinguish nothing except the clatter of silver on china, and themuffled soft tones of melanie’s voice. then she heard the creaking of the bed as a heavy body fellupon it and, soon after, the sound of boots dropping to the floor. after an interval, melanie appearedin the doorway but, strive though she might, mammy could not see past her into the room.

melanie looked tired and there were tears glistening on her lashes but her face was serene again.

“go tell miss scarlett that captain butler is quite willing for the funeral to take place tomorrowmorning,” she whispered.

“bress gawd!” ejaculated mammy. “how on uth—”

“don’t talk so loud. he’s going to sleep. and, mammy, tell miss scarlett, too, that i’ll be hereall night and you bring me some coffee. bring it here.”

“ter disyere room?”

“yes, i promised captain butler that if he would go to sleep i would sit up by her all night. nowgo tell miss scarlett, so she won’t worry any more.”

mammy started off down the hall, her weight shaking the floor, her relieved heart singing“hallelujah! hallelujah!” she paused thoughtfully outside of scarlett’s door, her mind in a fermentof thankfulness and curiosity.

“how miss melley done it beyon’ me. de angels fight on her side, ah specs. ah’ll tell missscarlett de fune’l termorrer but ah specs ah better keep hid dat miss melly settin’ up wid lil miss.

miss scarlett ain’ gwine lak dat a-tall.”

谁心里都清楚，邦妮·巴特勒越来越野了，真有必要严加管教她，然而她又是招人喜爱的宠儿，谁都不忍心去严格约束她。她是在跟父亲一起旅行的那几个月里开始放纵起来的。她和瑞德在新奥尔良和查尔斯顿时，就得到允许晚上高兴玩到什么时候都行，常常在剧院里，饭店里或牌桌旁倒在父亲怀里睡觉。现在，只要你不加强制，她就决不跟听话的爱拉同时上床去睡。她和瑞德在外时，瑞德总是让她穿自己想穿的衣服，而且从那时候起，每加嬷嬷叫她穿细布长袍和围裙，而不让穿天蓝色塔夫绸衣裳和花边护肩时，她就要大发脾气。

一旦孩子离家外出，以及后来思嘉生病去了塔拉，便失去了对她的管教，好像现在就再也管不住她了。等到邦妮长大了些，思嘉又试着去约束她，想不让她太任性、太骄惯，可是收效并不大。瑞德常常护着孩子，不管她的要求多么荒唐，行为多么怪僻。他鼓励她随意说话，把她当大人看待，显然十分认真地倾听她的意见，并且装作很听从似的。结果，邦妮常随意干扰大人的事，动不动就反驳父亲，使他下不了台。

但是瑞德只不过笑笑而已，连思嘉要打她一下手心以示警戒，他也不允许。

“如果她不是这样一个可爱的宝贝，她也就吃不开了，"思嘉郁郁不乐地想，也明白她的孩子原来和她自己一样倔强。

“她崇拜瑞德，要是他愿意的话，是完全可以让她变好的。"可是瑞德没有表示要教育孩子学好的意思。她做什么都是对的，她要月亮就给月亮，如果他能去摘下来的话。他对她的美貌，她的鬈发，她的酒窝，她的优美的姿势，无不感到骄傲。他爱她的淘气，爱她的兴高采烈，以及她用以表示爱他的那种奇特而美妙的样子。尽管她有骄惯和任性的地方，但她毕竟是那样可爱的一个孩子，他怎么能忍心去约束她呢！

他是她心目的上帝，是她小小世界的中心，这对他实在太宝贵了，他决不敢冒丧失这一地位的危险去训斥她。

她总像影子似的紧跟着他。早晨，他还不想起来时她就把他叫醒；吃饭时坐在他旁边，轮换地吃着他和她自己碟子里的东西；骑马出门时坐在他面前的鞍头上；晚上睡觉时只让瑞德给脱衣服，把她抱到他旁边的小床上去。

思嘉眼看自己的女儿用一又小手牢牢地控制着她的父亲，心里又高兴又感动。有谁能像瑞德这样一条汉子，做起父亲来竟会如此严肃而认真呢？不过，有时候思嘉也心怀妒忌，痛苦不堪，因为邦妮刚刚四岁，却比她更加了解瑞德，更能驾驭他。

邦妮满四岁后，嬷嬷便开始唠叨了，抱怨一个小姑娘不能骑着马，"横坐在她爸前面，衣裳被风撩得高高的。"瑞德对于这一批评颇为重视，因为嬷嬷提出的有关教育女孩子的意见，他一般都比较注意。结果他就买了一匹褐色的设特兰小马驹，它有光滑的长鬃和尾巴，连同一副小小的带有银饰的女鞍。从表面上看，这匹小马驹是给三个孩子买的，而且还给韦德也买了一副鞍子，可是韦德更喜爱他的那条圣伯纳德猫，而爱拉又害怕一切动物，因此这匹小马驹实际上便成了邦妮一个人的，名字就叫"巴特勒先生。"邦妮的占有欲得到了满足，唯一遗憾的是她还没有学会像她父亲那样跨骑在马鞍上。不过经过瑞德向她解释，说明侧骑在女鞍上比跨骑还要困难得多，她便感到高兴而且很快就学会了。瑞德对她骑马的姿势和灵巧的手腕是非常得意的。

“等着瞧吧，到她可以打猎了的时候，准保世界上哪个猎手也不如她呢，"瑞德夸口说。"那时我要带她弗吉尼亚去，那里才是真正打猎的地方。还有肯塔基，骑马就得到那里去。"等到要给她做骑马服时，照样又得由她自己挑选颜色，而且她照例又挑上了天蓝色的。

“不过，宝贝！还是不要用这种蓝丝绒吧！蓝丝绒是我参加衬交活动时穿的呢，“思嘉笑着说。"小姑娘最好穿黑府绸的。"这时她看见那两道小小的黑眉已经皱起来了，便赶紧说：“瑞德，看在上帝面上，你告诉她那种料子对她多么不合适，而且还很容易脏呀！"“唔，就让她做蓝丝绒的。要是弄脏了，我们就给她再做一件，“瑞德轻松地说。

这样，邦妮便有了一件蓝丝绒骑马服，衣襟下垂到小马肋部；还配做了一顶黑色的帽子，上面插着根红羽毛，那是受了媚兰讲的杰布·斯图尔特故事的启发。每当风和日丽，父女俩便骑马在桃树街上并辔而行，瑞德勒着缰绳让他那匹大黑马缓缓地配合那只小马的步伐啊埃有时他们一直跑到城郊的平静道路上，把孩子们和鸡呀、狗呀吓得乱窜。邦妮用马鞍抽打着她的"巴特勒先生，"满头纠缠着的鬈发迎风飘舞，瑞德则紧紧地勒着他的马，让他觉得她的"巴特勒先生"会赢得这场赛跑。后来瑞德确信她的坐势已经很稳当了，她的手腕已经很灵巧有力，而且她一点也不胆怯了，便决定让她学习跳栏，当然那高度只能是小马的脚长所能达到的。因此，他在后面场院里放置了一个栏架，还以每天25美分的工儿雇用彼得大叔的侄子沃什来教"巴特勒先生"跳栏。它从离地两英寸开始，逐渐跳到一英尺的高度。

这个安排遭到了最有关系的三方：即沃什、"巴特勒先生"和邦妮的反对。沃什是很怕马的，因为贪图高工钱才勉强答应教这只倔强的小马每天跳栏20次。“巴特勒先生"让它的小女主人经常拉尾巴和看蹄子，总算还忍受得住，可是总觉得它那生来肥胖的身躯是越不过那根栏杆的。至于邦妮，她最不高兴别人骑她的小马，因此一看见"巴特勒先生"被活什么骑着练习跳栏，便急得直顿脚。

直到瑞德最后认定小马已训练得很好，可以让邦妮自己去试试了，这孩子才无比地兴奋起来。她第一次试跳就欣然成功，便觉得跟父亲一起骑马外出没有什么意思了。思嘉看着这父女俩那么兴高采烈，禁好笑，她心想只要这新鲜劲儿过去，邦妮的兴趣便会转到别的玩意上，那时左邻右舍就可以安静些了。可是邦妮对这项游戏毫不厌倦。后院里从最远那头的凉亭直到栏架，已出现一条踏得光光的跑道。从那里整个上午都不断传来兴奋的呐喊声。这些呐喊，据一八四九年作过横跨大陆旅行的梅里韦瑟爷爷说，跟一个阿帕切人成功地剥一次头皮后的欢叫完全一样。

过了一个星期，邦妮要求将栏杆升高些，升到离地一英尺半。

“你到你六岁的时候吧，"瑞德说。"那时你能跳得更高了，我还要给你买匹大些的马。'巴特勒先生'的腿不够长呢。"“够长。我已经跳过媚兰姑姑家的玫瑰丛了，那高得很呢！”“不，你还得等等，"瑞德说，这回总算表现得坚定些。可是这坚定在她不停的恳求和怒吼下又渐渐消失了。

“唔，好吧，"有天早晨他笑着说，同时把那根窄窄的白色横杆挪高一些。"你要是掉下来，可别哭鼻子骂我呀！"“妈！"邦妮抬起头来朝思嘉的卧室尖叫着。“妈！快看呀！

爹爹说我能跳啦！”

思嘉正在梳头，听见女儿喊叫便走到窗口，微笑着俯视这个兴奋的小家伙，她穿着那件已沾满了尘土的天蓝色骑马服，模样可真怪。

“我真的得给她再另做一件了，'她心里想。"天知道我怎样才能说服她丢掉这件脏的埃““妈，你看！"“我在看着呢，亲爱的，"思嘉微笑着说。

瑞德将孩子举起来，让她骑在小马上，这时思嘉瞧着她那挺直的腰背和昂起的头，顿时从心底涌起一股自豪感，不禁大声喊道：“你真漂亮极了，我的宝贝！““你也一样呢，”邦妮慷慨地回赞她一句，一面用脚跟在"巴特勒先生"的肋上狠狠一蹬，便向凉亭那边飞跑过去了。

“妈，你瞧我这一下吧！"她大喊一声，一面抽着鞭子。

·瞧·我·这·一·下·吧！

记忆在思嘉心灵的深处隐隐发出回响。这句话里似乎有点不祥的意味。那是什么呀？难道她记不起来了？她俯视着她的小女儿那么轻盈地坐在飞奔的小马上，这时一丝凄冷突然掠过她的胸坎。邦妮猛冲过来，她那波翻浪涌般的鬈发在头上螦动着，天蓝色的眼睛闪闪发亮。

“这像爸的眼睛，爱尔兰人的蓝眼睛，"思嘉心想，"而且她在无论哪个方面都像他呢。“她一想起杰拉尔德，那正在苦苦搜索的记忆便像令人心悸的夏日闪电般霍然出现，立即把一整幅乡村景色照得雪亮了。她听得见一个爱尔兰嗓音在歌唱，听得见从塔拉疾驰而来的马蹄声，听得见一个跟她的孩子很相像的鲁莽的呼喊：“爱伦，瞧我这一下吧！"“不！"她大声喊道，"不！唔，邦妮，你别跳了！"正当她探身向窗口望时，一种可怕的木杆折裂声，瑞德的吼叫声，以及一堆蓝丝绒和飞奔的马蹄猝然坍倒在地上的声响，便同时传来了。然后，“巴特勒先生"挣扎着爬起来，驮着一个空马鞍迅速地跑开了。

邦妮死后第三个晚上，嬷嬷蹒跚着慢慢走上媚兰家厨房的台阶。她全身都是黑的，从一双脚尖剪开了的大男鞋到她的黑色头帕都是黑的。她那双模糊的老眼里布满了血丝，眼圈也红了，整个笨重的身躯几乎每处都流露出痛苦的神情。她那张皱脸孔，像只惶惑不安的老猴似的，不过那下颚却说明她心中早已打定了主意。

她对迪尔茜轻轻说了几句，迪尔茜亲切地点点头，仿佛她们之间那多年以来的争斗就这样默默地休战了。迪尔茜放下手中的晚餐盘碟，悄悄地穿过餐具室向饭厅走去。不一会儿，媚兰来到了厨房里，她手里还拿着餐巾，满脸焦急的神色。

“思嘉小姐不是----”

“思嘉小姐倒是平静了，跟平常一样，"嬷嬷沮丧的说。

“我本来不想打搅你吃晚饭，媚兰小姐。可是我等不及了，要把我压在心里的话跟你说说呢。"“晚饭可以等一会儿再吃嘛，"媚兰说。"迪尔茜，你去给别的人开饭吧。嬷嬷，跟我来。"嬷嬷蹒跚着跟在她后面，走过穿堂，从饭厅门外经过，这时艾希礼已端坐在餐桌上首，小博在他旁边，思嘉的两个孩子坐在对面，他们正把汤匙弄得丁丁当当乱响。饭厅里充满着韦德和爱拉的欢快的声音。他们觉得能跟媚兰姑姑在一起待这么久，真像是吃野餐呢。媚兰姑姑一向待他们和气，现在更是这样。小妹妹的死对他们没好像没有什么影响。邦妮从她的小马上摔下来后，母亲哭了很久，媚兰姑姑把她们带到这里来，跟小博一起在后院玩耍，想吃时便一起吃茶点饼干。

媚兰领路走进那间四壁全是书籍的起居室，关好门，推着嬷嬷在沙发上坐下。

“我准备吃过晚饭就马上过来的，"她说。"既然巴特勒船长的母亲已经来了，我想明天早晨就会下葬了吧。""下葬吗，正是这个问题呀，"嬷嬷说。"媚兰小姐，我们都弄得没有一点主意了，我就是来求你帮忙呢。这世止事事都叫人心烦，亲爱的，事事都叫人心烦啊！”“思嘉小姐病倒了吗？"媚兰焦急地问。"自从邦妮----以来，我就很少看见她呢。她整天关在房子里，而巴特勒船长却出门去----”泪水突然从嬷嬷那张黑脸上滚滚而下，媚兰坐到她身旁，轻轻拍着她的臂膀。一会儿，嬷嬷便撩起她的黑衣襟把眼睛拭干了。

“你一定得去帮忙我们呀，媚兰小姐。我已经尽了我的力了，可一点用处也没有。"”思嘉小姐----"嬷嬷挺直了腰板。

“媚兰小姐，你和我一样了解思嘉小姐嘛。那孩子到了该忍住的时候，上帝就给她力量叫她经受得起了。这件事伤透了她的心，可她经得祝我是为了瑞德先生才来的呀。"“我每次到那里，都很想见到他，可他要么进城去了，要么就锁在自己房里，跟----至于思嘉，她像个幽灵似的，一句话也不说----快告诉我，嬷嬷。你知道，只要我做得到，我是会帮忙的。"嬷嬷用手背擦了擦鼻子。

“我说思嘉小姐无论碰到什么事都经得住，因为她经受得多了。可是瑞德先生呢，媚兰小姐，他从没经受过他不愿经受的事，一次也没有。就是为了他，我才来找你。"“不过----"“媚兰小姐，今儿晚上你一定得跟我一起回去呀。"嬷嬷的口气非常迫切。"说不定瑞德先生会听你的呢。他一向是尊重你的意见的。"“唔，嬷嬷，到底是怎么回事呀？你指的是什么呢？"嬷嬷挺起胸来。

“媚兰小姐，瑞德先生已经----已经疯了。他不让我们把小姑娘抬走呢。”“疯了？啊，嬷嬷，不会的！"“我没有撒谎，这是千真万确的事。他不会让我们埋葬那孩子。他刚才亲口对我说了，还没超过一个钟头呢。"“可是他不能----他不是----"“所以我才说他疯了嘛。"“但是为什么----"“媚兰小姐，我把一切都告诉你吧。我本来不该告诉任何人，不过，咱们是一家人，你又是我唯一能告诉的。我把一切都告诉你吧。你知道他非常疼爱那个孩子。我从没见过一个人，无论黑人白人，是这样疼爱孩子的。米德大夫一说她的脖子摔断了，他就吓得完全疯了。他随即拿起枪跑出去，把那可怜的小马驹给毙了。老天爷，我还以为他要自杀呢！那时思嘉小姐晕过去了，我正忙着照顾她，邻居们也都挤在屋里屋外，可瑞德先生却始终痴呆地紧抱着那孩子，甚至还不让我去洗她那小脸的血污。后来思嘉小姐醒过来了，真谢天谢地，我才放心！我想，他们俩会互相安慰了吧。“嬷嬷又开始在流泪，不过这一次她索性不擦了。

“可当她醒过来后，到那房里一看，发现他抱着邦妮坐在那里，便说：'还我的女儿，她是你害死的！'"“啊，不！她不能这样说！"“是呀，小姐，她就是那样说的。她说：'是你害死了她。'我真替瑞德先生难过，我也哭了，因为他那模样实在太可怜。

我说：'把那孩子交给她嬷嬷吧。我不忍心让小小姐再这样下去呀。'我把孩子从他怀里抱过来将她放到她自己房里，给她洗脸，这时我听见他们在说话，那些话叫我听了血都凉了。思嘉小姐骂他是杀人犯，因为让孩子去跳那么高的栏给摔死了，而他说思嘉小姐从来不关心邦妮小姐和她的另外两个孩子……""别说了，嬷嬷！什么也别说了。你真不该给我讲这些事的！"媚兰喊道。嬷嬷的话里描绘的那幅情景，叫她害怕得心直发紧。

“我知道我用不着对你说这些，可我心里实在憋得慌，也不知道哪些话该说不该说了。后为瑞德先生亲自把孩子弄到了殡葬处，随即又带回来放在他房里她自己的床上。等到思嘉小姐说最好装殓起来停在客厅里时，我看瑞德先生简直要揍她了。他立即说：'她应该留在我房里。'同时他回过头来吩咐我：“嬷嬷，你留在这里看着她，等我回来。'接着他就骑马出门了，直到傍晚时候才回来。他急急忙忙回到家里时，我发现他喝得醉醺醺的，不过还像平常那样勉强支持着。他一进门，对思嘉小姐和皮蒂小姐以及在场的太太们一句话也没有，便赶紧直奔楼上去，打开他的房间，然后大声叫我。我尽快跑到楼上，只见他正站在床边，但因为屋里太黑，百叶窗也关了，我几乎看不清楚。"“这时他气冲冲地对我说：'把百叶窗打开，这里太黑了。'我马上打开窗子，发现他正瞧着我，而且，天哪，媚兰小姐，他那模样多古怪呀，吓得我连膝头都打颤了。接着他说：'拿灯来，多拿些灯来！把它们全都点上。不要关窗帘或百叶窗，难道你不知道邦妮小姐怕黑吗？'”媚兰那双惊恐的眼睛跟嬷嬷的眼睛互相看了看，嬷嬷不住地点点头。

“他就是这样说的。'邦妮小姐怕黑。'”

嬷嬷不由得哆嗦起来。

“我给他拿来一打蜡烛，他说了一声：'出去！'然后他把门倒锁起来，坐在里面陪着小小姐，连思嘉小姐来敲门叫他，他也不开。就这样过了两天。他根本不提下葬的事，只早晨锁好门骑马进城去，到傍晚才喝醉酒回来，又把自己关在房里，不吃也不睡。现在他母亲老巴特勒夫人从查尔斯顿赶到这里参加葬礼来了，苏伦小姐和威尔先生也从塔拉赶来，可是瑞德先生对她们都一声不吭。唔，媚兰小姐，这真可怕呀！

而且越来越糟，别人也会说闲话呢！”

“这样，到今天傍晚，"嬷嬷说着又停顿一下，用手擦了擦鼻子。"今天傍晚，他回来时，思嘉小姐在楼道里碰到了他，便跟他一起到房里去，并对他说：'葬礼定在明天上午举行。'他说：‘你要敢这样，我明天就宰了你。'"“啊，他一定是疯了！"“是的，小姐。接着他们谈话的声音低了些，我没有全听清楚，只听见他又在说邦妮小姐怕黑，而坟墓里黑极了。过了一会儿，思嘉小姐说，'你倒好，把孩子害死了以后，为了表白自己，却装起好心来了。'他说：'你真的不能宽恕我吗？'她说：'不能。而且你害死邦妮以后所干的那些勾当我早就厌恶极了。全城的人都会唾骂你。你整天酗酒，并且，你要是以为我不知道你在哪里鬼混，那你就太愚蠢了。我知道你是到那个贱货家去了，到贝尔·沃特琳那里去了。'"“啊，嬷嬷，不会的。”

“可这是真的，小姐。她就是这样说的。并且，媚兰小姐，这是事实。我黑人对许多事情知道得比白人要快。我也知道他是到那个地方去了，不过没有说罢了。而且他也并不否认。

他说：'是呀，太太我正是到那里去了，你也用不着这样伤心，因为你觉得这并不要紧嘛。走出这个地狱般的家，而那个下流地方便成了避难的天堂呢。何况贝尔是世界上心肠最好的女人。她决不指责我说我害死了自己的孩子呢。'"“啊，“媚兰伤心地喊了一声。

她自己的生活是那么愉快，那么宁安，那么为周围的人所爱护，那么充满着相互间的真挚亲切关怀，因此她对于嬷嬷所说的一切简直难以理解，也无法相信，不过她心里隐隐记得一桩事情，一幅她急于要排除就好比不愿意想像别人裸体一样的情景，那就是那天瑞德把头伏在她膝上哭泣时谈起贝尔·沃特琳。可是他是爱思嘉的。那天她不可能对此产生误解。而且，思嘉也是爱他的。他们之间到底发生了什么龃龉呢？夫妻之间怎么这有这样毫不留情地相互残杀呢？

嬷嬷继续伤心地说下去。

“过了一会，思嘉小姐从房里出来，她的脸色煞白，但下颚咬得很紧。她看见我站在那里，便说：'嬷嬷，葬礼明天举行。'说罢就像个幽灵似的走了。那时我心里怦怦乱跳，因为思嘉小姐是说到就做到的。可瑞德先生也是说一不二的呀，而且他说过她要是那样干，他就要宰了她呢。我心里乱极了，媚兰小姐，因为我良心上一直压着一桩事再也忍受不住了。媚兰小姐，是我让小小姐在黑暗中受了惊呢。"“唔，嬷嬷，可是这不要紧----现在不要紧了。"“要紧着呢，小姐。麻烦都出在这里呀。我想最好还是告诉瑞德先生，哪怕他把我杀了，因为我良心上过不去呀！所以我趁他还没锁门便赶快溜了进去，对他说：'瑞德先生，我有件事要向你承认。'他像个疯子似的猛地转过身来对我说：'出去！'天哪，我还从来没这样怕过呢！不过我还是说：'求求您了，瑞德先生，请允许我告诉您。我做的是该杀的事。是我叫小小姐在黑暗中受惊了呢。'说完，媚兰小姐，我就把头低下来，等着他来打了。可是他什么也没说。然后我又说：'我并不是存心的。不过，瑞德先生，那孩子很不小心，她什么也不怕。她常常等别人睡着了溜下床来，光着脚在屋里到处走动。这叫我很着急，生怕她害了自己，所以我对她说黑暗里有鬼和妖怪呢。'"“后来----媚兰小姐，你知道他怎么了？他显得很和气，走过来把手放在我的臂膀上。这是他头一次这样做呢。他还说：'她真勇敢，你说是吗？除了黑暗，她什么也不怕。'这时我哭了起来，他便说：'好了，嬷嬷，'他用手拍着我。'好了，嬷嬷，别这样哭了。我很高兴你告诉了我。我知道你爱邦妮小姐，既然你爱她，就不要紧了。重要的是一个人的心埃'好了，他既然这样和气，我就胆大了，就鼓起勇气说：'瑞德先生，安葬的事怎么样呢？'那时他像个野蛮人瞪大眼睛望着我说：'我的天，我还以为要是别人都不懂，可你总会懂得吧！你以为既然我的孩子那么害怕黑暗，我还会把她送到黑暗里去吗？现在我就听得她平常在黑暗中醒来时那种大哭的声音呢。我不会让她受惊了。'媚兰小姐，那时我就明白他是疯了。他喝酒，他也需要睡觉和吃东西，可这不是一切。

他真的疯了。他就那样把我推出门外，嘴里嚷着：'给我滚吧！'"“我下楼来，一路想着他说的不要安葬，可思嘉小姐说明天上午举行葬礼，他又说要毙了她。弄得家里所有的人，还有左邻右舍，都在谈论这件事，这样我就想到了你。媚兰小姐。你一定得去帮我们一把。"“唔！嬷嬷，我不能冒冒失失闯去呀！"“要是你都不能，还有谁能呢？"“可是我有什么办法，嬷嬷？"“媚兰小姐，我也说不明白。但我认为你是能帮上忙的。

你可以跟瑞德先生谈谈，也许他会听你的话。他一直很敬重你呢，媚兰小姐。也许你不知道，但他的确这样。我听他说过不止一次两次，说你是他所识的最伟大的女性呢。"“可是----"媚兰站起来，真不知怎么办好，一想到要面对瑞德心里就发怵。一想到要跟一个像嬷嬷描述的那样悲痛得发疯的男人去理论，她浑身都凉了。一想到要进入那间照得通亮、里面躺着一个她多么喜爱的小姑娘的房子，她的心就难过极了。

她怎么办呢？她能向瑞德说些什么才可以去缓解他的悲伤和恢复他的理智呢？她一时犹豫不定地站在那里，忽然从关着的门里传来她的孩子的欢快笑声，她猛地像一把刀子扎进心坎似的想起他要是死了呢？要是她的小博躺在楼上，小小的身躯凉了，僵了，他的笑声突然停止了呢？

“啊，"她惊恐地大叫一声，在心里把孩子紧紧抱祝她深深懂得瑞德的感情了。如果小博死了，她怎能把他抛开，让他孤零零的沦落在黑暗中，任凭风吹雨打啊！

“啊，可怜的，可怜的巴特勒船长啊！"她喊道。"我现在就去看他，马上就去。“她急忙回到饭厅，对艾希礼轻轻说了几句，然后紧紧搂了孩子一下，激动地吻了吻他的金色鬈发，这倒把孩子吓了一跳。

她帽子也没戴，餐巾还拿在手里，便走出家门，那迅疾的步子可叫嬷嬷的两条老腿难以跟上了。一连进思嘉家里前厅，她只向聚集在图书室里的人，向惊慌的皮蒂小姐和庄严的巴特勒老夫人，以及威尔和苏伦，匆匆地鞠躬致意，便径直上楼，让嬷嬷气喘吁叮地在背后跟着。她在思嘉紧闭的卧室门口停留了一会，但嬷嬷轻声说：“不，小姐，不要进去。"于是媚兰放慢步子走过穿堂，来到瑞德的门前站住了。她犹豫不定，仿佛想逃走似的。然后，她鼓起勇气，像个初次上阵的小兵，在门上敲了敲，并轻轻叫道：“请开门，巴特勒船长，我是威尔克斯太太。我要看看邦妮。"门很快开了，嬷嬷畏缩着退到穿堂的阴影中，同时看见瑞德那衬托在明亮的烛光背景中的巨大黑影。他摇摇晃晃地站在那里，嬷嬷好像还闻到他呼吸中的威士忌酒气。他低头看了看媚兰，挽起她的胳臂把她带进屋里，然后把门关上了。

嬷嬷侧着身子偷偷挪动到门旁一把椅子跟前，将自己那胖得不成样子的身躯费劲地塞在里面。她静静地坐着，默默地哭泣和祈祷着，不时撩起衣襟来擦眼泪。她竭力侧耳细听，但听不清房里的话，只听到一些低低的断断续续的嗡嗡声。

过了相当长一个时候，房门嘎的一声开了，媚兰那苍白而紧张的脸探了出来。

“请给我拿壶咖啡来，快一点，还要些三明治。"一旦形势紧迫，嬷嬷是可以像个16岁的活泼黑人那样敏捷的，何况她很想到瑞德屋里去看看，所以行动起来就更迅速了。不过，她的希望破灭了，因为媚兰只把门开了一道缝，将盘子接过去又关了。于是，嬷嬷又侧耳细听了很久，但除了银餐具碰着瓷器的声音以及媚兰那模模糊糊的轻柔语调调外，仍然什么也听不清楚。后来她听见床架嘎吱一声响，显然有个沉重的身躯倒在床上，接着是靴子掉在地板上的声音。

又过了一会，媚兰才出现在门口，但是嬷嬷无论怎样努力也没能越过她看见屋里的情景。媚兰显得很疲倦，眼睫毛上还闪着莹莹的泪花，不过脸色已平静了。

“快去告诉思嘉小姐，巴特勒船长很愿意明天上午举行邦妮的葬礼，"她低声说。

“谢天谢地！"嬷嬷兴奋地喊道。"你究竟是怎么----"“别这么大声说，他快要睡着了。还有，嬷嬷，告诉思嘉小姐，今晚我要整夜守在这里。你再给我去拿些咖啡，拿到这里来。"“送到这房里来？"“是的，我答应了巴特勒船长，他要是睡觉，我就整夜坐在那孩子身边。现在去告诉思嘉小姐吧。省得她再担心了。“嬷嬷动身向穿堂那头走去，笨重的身躯震憾着地板，但她的心里轻松得唱起歌来了。她在思嘉门口沉思地站了一会，脑子里又是感谢又是好奇，那一片紊乱已够她受的了。

“媚兰小姐是怎样胜过我把事情办成的呢？我看天使们都站在她那一边了。我要告诉思嘉小姐明天办葬礼的事，可我想最好把媚兰小姐守着小小姐坐夜的事先瞒着。思嘉小姐根本不会喜欢她这样做呢。”