Having maneuvered them away from the boring of war, she went back with interest to their immediate situation.

maneuvered: 操作

"What did your mother say about you two being expelled again?"

The boys looked uncomfortable, recalling their mother's conduct three month ago when they had come home, by request, from the University of Virginia.

"Well," said Stuart, "She hasn't had a chance to say anything yet. Tom and us left home early this morning before she got up, and Tom's laying out over at the Fontaines' while we came over here."

"Didn't she say anything when you got home last night?"

"We were in luck last night. Just before we got home that new stallion Ma got in Kentucky last month was brought in, and the place was in a stew. The big brute---he's a grand horse, Scarlett; you must tell your pa to come over and see him right away--he'd already bitten a hunk out of his groom on the way down here and he'd trampled two of Ma's darkies who met the train at Jonesboro. And just before we got home, he'd about kicked the stable down and half-killed a sackful of sugar smoothing him rafters, popeyed, they were so scared, but Ma was talking to the horse like he was folks and he was eating out of her hand. There ain't nobody like Ma with a horse. And when she saw us she said: ' In heaven's name, what are your four doing home again? You're worse than the plagues of Egypt!' here! Can't you see he's nervous, the big darling? I'll tend to you four in the morning!' So we went to bed, and this morning we got away before she could catch us and left Boyd to handle her."

stallion: 种马
stew:
brute: 畜生
groom: 马夫
trampled: 践踏
sackful: 满袋
plagues: 瘟疫