Southern Rose [Gone with the Wind]

She frowned slightly: If you want to talk about this era, no, it's like this in any era. Men always think that they are the "master" and want to take you here and there.

She didn't speak, Leonardo didn't know what he said wrong, and became nervous.

"Still, you don't want to... No, I mean..." He suddenly didn't know how to continue.

He looked across the lawn, where some black girls were running around picking wildflowers.This should have been an ordinary day, but it didn't seem like an ordinary day.

He thought of the day when he proposed to the deceased Maria, which seemed to be an ordinary day. Maria was very simple and innocent, and innocent people are always simple.And what about Josephine?She is certainly not simple, but she cannot be considered complicated, but she is also innocent.

Maria was pleasantly surprised and happy when she agreed to his marriage proposal. He still remembered her smile, what a pleasant smile it was!

He touched the small velvet box in his pocket uneasily, hesitating when would be a "good time".He knew that the Yankee had invited Robillard and his family to Boston for vacation. Emile hadn't agreed yet, but maybe he would soon.

If Josephine decides to go to Boston, then it will be to investigate Talent's family situation, that is to say, he may not even have the chance to propose marriage.

How could a man allow himself such a failure?

"Josephine," he made up his mind, taking her hand quickly, "I think you understand me very well. You are the most attractive woman I have ever known, not only for your beauty. I admit I am sure Will be attracted by your beauty, but beauty cannot make a man fall madly in love with you. I am a man loved and lost, a widower, I may not be attractive to you, in your admirer, I am honored to be honored by you.

I know I'm not the best choice for you, I'm an 'ominous person', I'm supposed to be alone for the rest of my life, but I met you, fell in love with you - maybe it's not a presumptuous thing to do.What I want to say is, I love you, I hope to bring you happiness, and you can also bring me happiness. "

He carefully took out the velvet box in his pocket, opened it, "Will you marry me, Josephine?"

Josephine stood up suddenly, with a frightened expression on her face, "What?"

Leonardo was a little shocked by her expression and tone, "Am I late?"

"No." Josephine sat down quickly, "I just didn't expect..."

She was fascinated by the black girls running around on the lawn, the little slave girls of the family who hadn't had time to redeem themselves.How young and innocent they are, only know how to play, heartless, carefree.

Darcy seems to have nothing wrong with it, at least he knows the basics and has no dark history to hide.Darcy and Talent are not much different in appearance, they are both rare and handsome young men, but——she suddenly understood why she was not moved by the marriage proposal at all, because she didn't love any of them.

Considering marriage does not need to consider love at the same time, both of them are good, but they are only "good", always lacking something.

As for the unfortunate Mr. Hastings, sorry, she really doesn't remember him at all.

Leonardo also had no more experience with marriage proposals. He vaguely understood that his proposal was very unsuccessful, but he didn't understand what went wrong.Is it Talent?The Yankees proposed first, so Josephine now has no choice?

No, if Josephine had said yes to Terente's proposal, she wouldn't act as if she wanted neither to say no nor to say yes.

So he should still have a chance.

"You can think about it, but don't think about it for too long." He looked at the ring in the velvet box: a 6-carat pigeon's blood ruby, just such a transparent and beautiful gemstone, no other matching stones are needed. Set off, just like his Josephine.

His Josephine.

Thinking of this, he felt his heart beat faster, he longed for her more than anyone else.He knew what it was between husband and wife, and he knew—no, he didn't know what it was like to be in love with someone.He thought he loved Maria before, but it seemed that when he reached a certain age, he had to have a wife, he had to have an heir, and it was just a "thing a man needs to do."Maria was too young to understand almost anything, she was a good woman, a good wife, he proposed to her within a year of their acquaintance, she was so excited that she almost fainted——

Josephine seemed too calm.

He also calmed down now, thinking about what Josephine's behavior meant.She didn't exclaim in surprise, nor fainted, it seemed to be the "calmness" of "what are you talking about".

He felt a little sad, and pushed the ring box over casually, "You can accept it first, and if you decide to reject me, you can return it to me. But... I don't want to accept rejection. Josephine, oh Josephine .”

"Love" is a luxury.

Don't say "love" if you're not sure.

Emile has no good way to deal with this matter. She has also experienced several suitors at the same time, but only Robillard from the United States has enough wealth and is a cute enough man, so she has no choice. difficult question.

Having too many suitors for my daughter is also a worry.

Mayville and Beauval have already been eliminated and will not be considered; both Talent and Darcy have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is indeed difficult to choose, but in the end it depends on who Josephine likes.

"My dear daughter, it seems that I can't keep you at home for a few more years." Emile said jokingly, "Let me see, they are both good, but who do you like?"

Josephine wants to say: Adults don't make choices, I want to.

This would terrify Emile and would make her "crazy".

"Didn't you agree to wait for Charlie to write back again?"

Emile nodded knowingly, "It seems that you still like the Yankees."

"Don't call him 'yankee' all the time."

"Oh, yes, 'Your Philip—'."

"He's not 'mine'. Philip is better and better looking." He may also have a good figure. A man who loves riding horses and can play cricket and tennis must also have a good figure. It's a pity that if you don't follow him If she gets married, she is unlikely to have the opportunity to "observe" a man's body.

"Then, after Charlie finds out that he has no bad habits, Dad and I will take you to Boston, okay?" Emile asked her softly.

"Well, I'd like to see Mrs. Talent, too. I wouldn't like to go to her if she was difficult. His father is dead, and it's unlikely that the widowed mother will be left alone at another mansion."

"If she's a good mother, she won't mind your business. If she dares to tell my daughter what to do, I will definitely have a hard time with her."

"Mother, don't tell Charlie's wife what to do in the future."

"Did Charlie tell you to say that?" Emile was also very helpless, "Reassure him, when he gets married, my father promises to take me to Europe for several years, and I will not wait until he has several children. return."

"Charlie says he won't think about marriage until he's 30."

"Let him be. I don't want to urge him to get married now. When he reaches the age of 30, he may become a stable man like Darcy. Only then will he be ready to be a husband."

Josephine was thoughtful: That’s why mothers like Darcy’s steady (and boring) man as a son-in-law. The reason why Darcy gets extra points is because he knows everything. Congenitally deficient.

She brought Leonardo's ring back. The ruby ​​is beautiful and exquisitely cut, and it fits beautifully on her white and slender finger. He has a good eye for choosing the engagement ring.

She threw the ring and box into the jewelry box.

Ten days later, Charles wrote home again.

"Talent, it is said, is no one in Richmond, and he has some business here, which we thought was cotton, and we found out that he has two fine coal mines in Virginia.

……

The locals spoke highly of him, and it was said that there were quite a few famous ladies who admired Mr. Tarent, but it might just be a rumor.Talent liked the dance, and was good at cards, but there were no other rumors. "

The author has something to say:

*propose to mess with.