CHAPTER LVII

IT WAS A PALE, thin woman that Rhett put on the Jonesboro train a month later. Wade and Ella, who were to make the trip with her, were silent and uneasy at their mother’s still, white face. They clung close to Prissy, for even to their childish minds there was something frightening in the cold, impersonal atmosphere between their mother and their stepfather.

Weak as she was, Scarlett was going home to Tara. She felt that she would stifle if she stayed in Atlanta another day, with her tired mind forcing itself round and round the deeply worn circle of futile thoughts about the mess she was in. She was sick in body and weary in mind and she was standing like a lost child in a nightmare country in which there was no familiar landmark to guide her.

As she had once fled Atlanta before an invading army, so she was fleeing it again, pressing her worries into the back of her mind with her old defense against the world: “I won’t think of it now. I can’t stand it if I do. I’ll think of it tomorrow at Tara. Tomorrow’s another day.” It seemed that if she could only get back to the stillness and the green cotton fields of home, all her troubles would fall away and she would somehow be able to mold her shattered thoughts into something she could live by.

Rhett watched the train until it was out of sight and on his face there was a look of speculative bitterness that was not pleasant. He sighed, dismissed the carriage and mounting his horse, rode down Ivy Street toward Melanie’s house.

It was a warm morning and Melanie sat on the vine-shaded porch, her mending basket piled high with socks. Confusion and dismay filled her when she saw Rhett alight from his horse and toss the reins over the arm of the cast-iron negro boy who stood at the sidewalk. She had not seen him alone since that too dreadful day when Scarlett had been so ill and he had been so—well—so drunk. Melanie hated even to think the word. She had spoken to him only casually during Scarlett’s convalescence and, on those occasions, she had found it difficult to meet his eyes. However, he had been his usual bland self at those times, and never by look or word showed that such a scene had taken place between them. Ashley had told her once that men frequently did not remember things said and done in drink and Melanie prayed heartily that Captain Butler’s memory had failed him on that occasion. She felt she would rather die than learn that he remembered his outpourings. Timidity and embarrassment swept over her and waves of color mounted her cheeks as he came up the walk. But perhaps he had only come to ask if Beau could spend the day with Bonnie. Surely he wouldn’t have the bad taste to come and thank her for what she had done that day!

She rose to meet him, noting with surprise, as always, how lightly he walked for a big man.

“Scarlett has gone?”

“Yes. Tara will do her good,” he said smiling. “Sometimes I think she’s like the giant Antaeus who became stronger each time he touched Mother Earth. It doesn’t do for Scarlett to stay away too long from the patch of red mud she loves. The sight of cotton growing will do her more good than all Dr. Meade’s tonics.”

“Won’t you sit down?” said Melanie, her hands fluttering. He was so very large and male, and excessively male creatures always discomposed her. They seem to radiate a force and vitality that made her feel smaller and weaker even than she was. He looked so swarthy and formidable and the heavy muscles in his shoulders swelled against his white linen coat in a way that frightened her. It seemed impossible that she had seen all this strength and insolence brought low. And she had held that black head in her lap!

“Oh, dear!” she thought in distress and blushed again.

“Miss Melly,” he said gently, “does my presence annoy you? Would you rather I went away? Pray be frank.”

“Oh!” she thought. “He does remember! And he knows how upset I am!”

She looked up at him, imploringly, and suddenly her embarrassment and confusion faded. His eyes were so quiet, so kind, so understanding that she wondered how she could ever have been silly enough to be flurried. His face looked tired and, she thought with surprise, more than a little sad. How could she have even thought he’d be ill bred enough to bring up subjects both would rather forget?

“Poor thing, he’s been so worried about Scarlett,” she thought, and managing a smile, she said: “Do sit down, Captain Butler.”

He sat down heavily and watched her as she picked up her darning.

“Miss Melly, I’ve come to ask a very great favor of you and,” he smiled and his mouth twisted down, “to enlist your aid in a deception from which I know you will shrink.”

“A—deception?”

“Yes. Really, I’ve come to talk business to you.”

“Oh, dear. Then it’s Mr. Wilkes you’d better see. I’m such a goose about business. I’m not smart like Scarlett.”

“I’m afraid Scarlett is too smart for her own good,” he said, “and that is exactly what I want to talk to you about. You know how—ill she’s been. When she gets back from Tara she will start again hammer and tongs with the store and those mills which I wish devoutly would explode some night. I fear for her health, Miss Melly.”

“Yes, she does far too much. You must make her stop and take care of herself.”

He laughed.

“You know how headstrong she is. I never even try to argue with her. She’s just like a willful child. She won’t let me help her—she won’t let anyone help her. I’ve tried to get her to sell her share in the mills but she won’t. And now, Miss Melly, I come to the business matter. I know Scarlett would sell the remainder of her interest in the mills to Mr. Wilkes but to no one else, and I want Mr. Wilkes to buy her out.”

“Oh, dear me! That would be nice but—” Melanie stopped and bit her lip. She could not mention money matters to an outsider. Somehow, despite what he made from the mill, she and Ashley never seemed to have enough money. It worried her that they saved so little. She did not know where the money went. Ashley gave her enough to run the house on, but when it came to extra expenses they were often pinched. Of course, her doctors bills were so much, and then the books and furniture Ashley ordered from New York did run into money. And they had fed and clothed any number of waifs who slept in their cellar. And Ashley never felt like refusing a loan to any man who’d been in the Confederate Army. And—

“Miss Melly, I want to lend you the money,” said Rhett

“That’s so kind of you, but we might never repay it.”

“I don’t want it repaid. Don’t be angry with me, Miss Melly! Please hear me through. It will repay me enough to know that Scarlett will not be exhausting herself driving miles to the mills every day. The store will be enough to keep her busy and happy. ... Don’t you see?”

“Well—yes—” said Melanie uncertainly.

“You want your boy to have a pony don’t you? And want him to go to the university and to Harvard and to Europe on a Grand Tour?”

“Oh, of course,” cried Melanie, her face lighting up, as always, at the mention of Beau. “I want him to have everything but—well, everyone is so poor these days that—”

“Mr. Wilkes could make a pile of money out of the mills some day,” said Rhett. “And I’d like to see Beau have all the advantages he deserves.”

“Oh, Captain Butler, what a crafty wretch you are!” she cried, smiling. “Appealing to a mother’s pride! I can read you like a book.”

“I hope not,” said Rhett, and for the first time there was a gleam in his eye. “Now will you let me lend you the money?”

“But where does the deception come in?”

“We must be conspirators and deceive both Scarlett and Mr. Wilkes.”

“Oh, dear! I couldn’t!”

“If Scarlett knew I had plotted behind her back, even for her own good—well, you know her temper! And I’m afraid Mr. Wilkes would refuse any loan I offered him. So neither of them must know where the money comes from.”

“Oh, but I’m sure Mr. Wilkes wouldn’t refuse, if he understood the matter. He is so fond of Scarlett.”

“Yes, I’m sure he is,” said Rhett smoothly. “But just the same he would refuse. You know how proud all the Wilkes are.”

“Oh, dear!” cried Melanie miserably, “I wish— Really, Captain Butler, I couldn’t deceive my husband.” -

“Not even to help Scarlett?” Rhett looked very hurt. “And she is so fond of you!”

Tears trembled on Melanie’s eyelids.

“You know I’d do anything in the world for her. I can never, never half repay her for what she’s done for me. You know.”

“Yes,” he said shortly, “I know what she’s done for you. Couldn’t you tell Mr. Wilkes that the money was left you in the will of some relative?”

“Oh, Captain Butler, I haven’t a relative with a penny to bless him!”

“Then, if I sent the money through the mail to Mr. Wilkes without his knowing who sent it, would you see that it was used to buy the mills and not—well, given away to destitute ex-Confederates?”

At first she looked hurt at his last words, as though they implied criticism of Ashley, but he smiled so understandingly she smiled back.

“Of course I will.”

“So it’s settled? It’s to be our secret?”

“But I have never kept anything secret from my husband!”

“I’m sure of that, Miss Melly.”

As she looked at him she thought how right she had always been about him and how wrong so many other people were. People had said he was brutal and sneering and bad mannered and even dishonest Though many of the nicest people were now admitting they had been wrong. Well! She had known from the very beginning that he was a fine man. She had never received from him anything but the kindest treatment, thoughtfulness, utter respect and what understanding! And then, how he loved Scarlett! How sweet of him to take this roundabout way of sparing Scarlett one of the loads she carried!

In an impulsive rush of feeling, she said: “Scarlett’s lucky to have a husband who’s so nice to her!”

“You think so? I’m afraid she wouldn’t agree with you, if she could hear you. Besides, I want to be nice to you too, Miss Melly. I’m giving you more than I’m giving Scarlett.”

“Me!” she questioned, puzzled. “Oh, you mean for Beau.”

He picked up his hat and rose. He stood for a moment looking down at the plain, heart-shaped face with its long widow’s peak and serious dark eyes. Such an unworldly face, a face with no defenses against life.

“No, not Beau. I’m trying to give you something more than Beau, if you can imagine that”

“No, I can’t,” she said, bewildered again. “There’s nothing in the world more precious to me than Beau except Ash—except Mr. Wilkes.”

Rhett said nothing and looked down at her, his dark face still.

“You’re mighty nice to want to do things for me, Captain Butler, but really, I’m so lucky. I have everything in the world any woman could want.”

“That’s fine,” said Rhett, suddenly grim. “And I intend to see that you keep them.”

When Scarlett came back from Tara, the unhealthy pallor had gone from her face and her cheeks were rounded and faintly pink. Her green eyes were alert and sparkling again, and she laughed aloud for the first time in weeks when Rhett and Bonnie met her and Wade and Ella at the depot—laughed in annoyance and amusement. Rhett had two straggling turkey feathers in the brim of his hat and Bonnie, dressed in a sadly torn dress that was her Sunday frock, had diagonal lines of indigo blue on her cheeks and a peacock feather half as long as she was in her curls. Evidently a game of Indian had been in progress when the time came to meet the train and it was obvious from the look of quizzical helplessness on Rhett’s face and the lowering indignation of Mammy that Bonnie had refused to have her toilet remedied, even to meet her mother.

Scarlett said: “What a ragamuffin!” as she kissed the child and turned a cheek for Rhett’s lips. There were crowds of people in the depot or she would never have invited this caress. She could not help noticing, for all her embarrassment at Bonnie’s appearance, that everyone in the crowd was smiling at the figure father and daughter cut, smiling not in derision but in genuine amusement and kindness. Everyone knew that Scarlett’s youngest had her father under her thumb and Atlanta was amused and approving. Rhett’s great love for his child had gone far toward reinstating him in public opinion.

On the way home, Scarlett was full of County news. The hot, dry weather was making the cotton grow so fast you could almost hear it but Will said cotton prices were going to be low this fall. Suellen was going to have another baby—she spelled this out so the children would not comprehend—and Ella had shown unwonted spirit in biting Suellen’s oldest girl. Though, observed Scarlett, it was no more than little Susie deserved, she being her mother all over again. But Suellen had become infuriated and they had had an invigorating quarrel that was just like old times. Wade had killed a water moccasin, all by himself. ‘Randa and Camilla Tarleton were teaching school and wasn’t that a joke? Not a one of the Tarletons had ever been able to spell cat! Betsy Tarleton had married a fat one-armed man from Lovejoy and they and Hetty and Jim Tarleton were raising a good cotton crop at Fairhill. Mrs. Tarleton had a brood mare and a colt and was as happy as though she had a million dollars. And there were negroes living in the old Calvert house! Swarms of them and they actually owned it! They’d bought it in at the sheriff’s sale. The place was dilapidated and it made you cry to look at it. No one knew where Cathleen and her no-good husband had gone. And Alex was to marry Sally, his brother’s widow! Imagine that, after them living in the same house for so many years! Everybody said it was a marriage of convenience because people were beginning to gossip about them living there alone, since both Old Miss and Young Miss had died. And it had about broken Dimity Munroe’s heart. But it served her right If she’d had any gumption she’d have caught her another man long ago, instead of waiting for Alex to get money enough to marry her.

Scarlett chattered on cheerfully but there were many things about the County which she suppressed, things that hurt to think about. She had driven over the County with Will, trying not to remember when these thousands of fertile acres had stood green with cotton. Now, plantation after plantation was going back to the forest and dismal fields of broomsedge, scrub oak and runty pines had grown stealthily about silent ruins and over old cotton fields. Only one acre was being farmed now where once a hundred had been under the plow. It was like moving through a dead land.

“This p won’t come back for fifty years—if it ever comes back,” Will had said. Tara’s the best farm in the County, thanks to you and me, Scarlett, but it’s a farm, a two-mule farm, not a plantation. And the Fontaine place, it comes next to Tare and then the Tarletons. They ain’t makin’ much money but they’re getting’ along and they got gumption. But most of the rest of the folks, the rest of the farms—”

No, Scarlett did not like to remember the way the deserted County looked. It seemed even sadder, in retrospect beside the bustle and prosperity of Atlanta.

“Has anything happened here?” she asked when they were finally home and were seated on the front porch. She had talked rapidly and continuously all the way home, fearing that a silence would fall. She had not had a word alone with Rhett since that day when she fell down the steps and she was none too anxious to be alone with him now. She did not know how he felt toward her. He had been kindness itself during her miserable convalescence, but it was the kindness of an impersonal stranger. He had anticipated her wants, kept the children from bothering her and supervised the store and the mills. But he had never said: “I’m sorry.” Well, perhaps he wasn’t sorry. Perhaps he still thought that child that was never born was not his child. How could she tell what went on in the mind behind the bland dark face? But he had showed a disposition to be courteous, for the first time in their married life, and a desire to let life go on as though there had never been anything unpleasant between them—as though, thought Scarlett cheerlessly, as though there had never been anything at all between them. Well, if that was what he wanted, she could act her part too.

“Is everything all right?” she repeated. “Did you get the new shingles for the store? Did you swap the mules? For Heaven’s sake, Rhett, take those feathers out of your hat. You look a fool and you’ll be likely to wear them downtown without remembering to take them out.”

“No,” said Bonnie, picking up her father’s hat defensively.

“Everything has gone very well here,” replied Rhett. “Bonnie and I have had a nice time and I don’t believe her hair has been combed since you left. Don’t suck the feathers, darling, they may be nasty. Yes, the shingles are fixed and I got a good trade on the mules. No, there’s really no news. Everything has been quite dull.”

Then, as an afterthought he added: “The honorable Ashley was over here last night. He wanted to know if I thought you would sell him your mill and the part interest you have in his.”

Scarlett who had been rocking and fanning herself with a turkey tail fan, stopped abruptly.

“Sell? Where on earth did Ashley get the money? You know they never have a cent. Melanie spends it as fast as he makes it.”

Rhett shrugged. “I always thought her a frugal little person, but then I’m not as well informed about the intimate details of the Wilkes family as you seem to be.”

That jab seemed in something of Rhett’s old style and Scarlett grew annoyed.

“Run away, dear,” she said to Bonnie. “Mother wants to talk to Father.”

“No,” said Bonnie positively and climbed upon Rhett’s lap.

Scarlett frowned at her child and Bonnie scowled back in so complete a resemblance to Gerald O’Hara that Scarlett almost laughed.

“Let her stay,” said Rhett comfortably. “As to where he got the money, it seems it was sent him by someone he nursed through a case of smallpox at Rock Island. It renews my faith in human nature to know that gratitude still exists.”

“Who was it? Anyone we know?”

“The letter was unsigned and came from Washington. Ashley was at a loss to know who could have sent it. But then, one of Ashley’s unselfish temperament goes about the world doing so many good deeds that you can’t expect him to remember all of them.”

Had she not been so surprised at Ashley’s windfall, Scarlett would have taken up this gauntlet, although while at Tara she had decided that never again would she permit herself to be involved in any quarrel with Rhett about Ashley. The ground on which she stood in this matter was entirely too uncertain and, until she knew exactly where she stood with both men, she did not care to be drawn out.

“He wants to buy me out?”

“Yes. But Of course, I told him you wouldn’t sell.”

“I wish you’d let me mind my own business.”

“Well, you know you wouldn’t part with the mills. I told him that he knew as well as I did that you couldn’t bear not to have your finger in everybody’s pie, and if you sold out to him, then you wouldn’t be able to tell him how to mind his own business.”

“You dared say that to him about me?”

“Why not? It’s true, isn’t it? I believe he heartily agreed with me but of course, he was too much of a gentleman to come right out and say so.”

“It’s a lie! I will sell them to him!” cried Scarlett angrily.

Until that moment, she had had no idea of parting with the mills. She had several reasons for wanting to keep them and their monetary value was the least reason. She could have sold them for large sums any time in the last few years, but she had refused all offers. The mills were the tangible evidence of what she had done, unaided and against great odds, and she was proud of them and of herself. Most of all, she did not want to sell them because they were the only path that lay open to Ashley. If the mills went from her control it would mean that she would seldom see Ashley and probably never see him alone. And she had to see him alone. She could not go on this way any longer, wondering what his feelings toward her were now, wondering if all his love had died in shame since the dreadful night of Melanie’s party. In the course of business she could find many opportune times for conversations without it appearing to anyone that she was seeking him out. And, given time, she knew she could gain back whatever ground she had lost in his heart. But if she sold the mills—

No, she did not want to sell but, goaded by the thought that Rhett had exposed her to Ashley in so truthful and so unflattering a light, she had made up her mind instantly. Ashley should have the mills and at a price so low he could not help realizing how generous she was.

“I will sell!” she cried furiously. “Now, what do you think of that?”

There was the faintest gleam of triumph in Rhett’s eyes as he bent to tie Bonnie’s shoe string.

“I think you’ll regret it,” he said.

Already she was regretting the hasty words. Had they been spoken to anyone save Rhett she would have shamelessly retracted them. Why had she burst out like that? She looked at Rhett with an angry frown and saw that he was watching her with his old keen, cat-at-a-mouse-hole look. When he saw her frown, he laughed suddenly, his white teeth flashing. Scarlett had an uncertain feeling that he had jockeyed her into this position.

“Did you have anything to do with this?” she snapped.

“I?” His brows went up in mock surprise. “You should know me better. I never go about the world doing good deeds if I can avoid it.”

That night she sold the mills and all her interest in them to Ashley. She did not lose thereby for Ashley refused to take advantage of her first low offer and met the highest bid that she had ever had for them. When she had signed the papers and the mills were irrevocably gone and Melanie was passing small glasses of wine to Ashley and Rhett to celebrate the transaction, Scarlett felt bereft as though she had sold one of her children.

The mills had been her darlings, her pride, the fruit of her small grasping hands. She had started with one little mill in those black days when Atlanta was barely struggling up from ruin and ashes and want was staring her in the face. She had fought and schemed and nursed them through the dark times when Yankee confiscation loomed, when money was tight and smart men going to the wall. And now when Atlanta was covering its scars and buildings were going up everywhere and newcomers flocking to the town every day, she had two fine mills, two lumber yards, a dozen mule teams and convict labor to operate the business at low cost Bidding farewell to them was like closing a door forever on a part of her life, a bitter, harsh part but one which she recalled with a nostalgic satisfaction.

She had built up this business and now she had sold it and she was oppressed with the certainty that, without her at the helm, Ashley would lose it all—everything that she had worked to build. Ashley trusted everyone and still hardly knew a two-by-four from a six-by-eight. And now she would never be able to give him the benefit of her advice—all because Rhett had told him that she liked to boss everything.

“Oh, damn Rhett!” she thought and as she watched him the conviction grew that he was at the bottom of all this. Just how and why she did not know. He was talking to Ashley and his words brought her up sharply.

“I suppose you’ll turn the convicts back right away,” he said.

Turn the convicts back? Why should there be any idea of turning them back? Rhett knew perfectly well that the large profits from the mills grew out of the cheap convict labor. And why did Rhett speak with such certainty about what Ashley’s future actions would be? What did he know of him?

“Yes, they’ll go back immediately,” replied Ashley and he avoided Scarlett’s dumbfounded gaze.

“Have you lost your mind?” she cried. “You’ll lose all the money on the lease and what kind of labor can you get, anyway?”

“I’ll use free darkies,” said Ashley.

“Free darkies! Fiddle-dee-dee! You know what their wages will cost and besides you’ll have the Yankees on your neck every minute to see if you’re giving them chicken three times a day and tucking them to sleep under eiderdown quilts. And if you give a lazy darky a couple of licks to speed him up, you’ll hear the Yankees scream from here to Dalton and you’ll end up in jail. Why, convicts are the only—”

Melanie looked down into her lap at her twisted hands. Ashley looked unhappy but obdurate. For a moment he was silent Then his gaze crossed Rhett’s and it was as if he found understanding and encouragement in Rhett’s eyes—a glance that was not lost on Scarlett.

“I won’t work convicts, Scarlett,” he said quietly.

“Well, sir!” her breath was taken away. “And why not? Are you afraid people will talk about you like they do about me?”

Ashley raised his head.

“I’m not afraid of what people say as long as I’m right. And I have never felt that convict labor was right.”

“But why—”

“I can’t make money from the enforced labor and misery of others.”

“But you owned slaves!”

“They weren’t miserable. And besides, I’d have freed them all when Father died if the war hadn’t already freed them. But this is different, Scarlett. The system is open to too many abuses. Perhaps you don’t know it but I do. I know very well that Johnnie Gallegher has killed at least one man at his camp. Maybe more—who cares about one convict, more or less? He said the man was killed trying to escape, but that’s not what I’ve heard elsewhere. And I know he works men who are too sick to work. Call it superstition, but I do not believe that happiness can come from money made from the sufferings of others.”

“God’s nightgown! You mean—goodness, Ashley, you didn’t swallow all the Reverend Wallace’s bellowings about tainted money?”

“I didn’t have to swallow it I believed it long before he preached on it.”

“Then, you must think all my money is tainted,” cried Scarlett beginning to be angry. “Because I worked convicts and own saloon property and—” She stopped short. Both the Wilkes looked embarrassed and Rhett was grinning broadly. Damn him, thought Scarlett, vehemently. He’s thinking that I’m sticking my finger in other people’s pies again and so is Ashley. I’d like to crack their heads together! She swallowed her wrath and tried to assume an aloof air of dignity but with little success.

“Of course, it’s immaterial to me,” she said.

“Scarlett, don’t think I’m criticizing you! I’m not. It’s just that we look at things in different ways and what is good for you might not be good for me.”

She suddenly wished that they were alone, wished ardently that Rhett and Melanie were at the end of the earth, so she could cry out: “But I want to look at things the way you look at them! Tell me just what you mean, so I can understand and be like you!”

But with Melanie present, trembling with the distress of the scene, and Rhett lounging, grinning at her, she could only say with as much coolness and offended virtue as she could muster: “I’m sure it’s your own business, Ashley, and far be it from me to tell you how to run it. But, I must say, I do not understand your attitude or your remarks.”

Oh, if they were only alone, so she would not be forced to say these cool things to him, these words that were making him unhappy!

“I’ve offended you, Scarlett, and I did not mean to. You must believe me and forgive me. There is nothing enigmatic in what I said. It is only that I believe that money which comes in certain ways seldom brings happiness.”

“But you’re wrong!” she cried, unable to restrain herself any longer. “Look at me! You know how my money came. You know how things were before I made my money! You remember that winter at Tara when it was so cold and we were cutting up the carpets for shoes and there wasn’t enough to eat and we used to wonder how we were going to give Beau and Wade an education. You remem—”

“I remember,” said Ashley tiredly, “but I’d rather forget.”

“Well, you can’t say any of us were happy then, can you? And look at us now! You’ve a nice home and a good future. And has anyone a prettier house than mine or nicer clothes or finer horses? Nobody sets as fine a table as me or gives nicer receptions and my children have everything they want. Well, how did I get the money to make it possible? Off trees? No, sir! Convicts and saloon rentals and—”

“And don’t forget murdering that Yankee,” said Rhett softly. “He really gave you your start.”

Scarlett swung on him, furious words on her lips.

“And the money has made you very, very happy, hasn’t it, darling?” he asked, poisonously sweet.

Scarlett stopped short, her mouth open, and her eyes went swiftly to the eyes of the other three. Melanie was almost crying with embarrassment, Ashley was suddenly bleak and withdrawn and Rhett was watching her over his cigar with impersonal amusement. She started to cry out: “But of course, it’s made me happy!”

But somehow, she could not speak.

IN THE TIME that followed her illness Scarlett noticed a change in Rhett and she was notaltogether certain that she liked it. He was sober and quiet and preoccupied1. He was at home more often for supper now and he was kinder to the servants and more affectionate to Wade2 and Ella. Henever referred to anything in their past, pleasant or otherwise, and silently seemed to dare her tobring up such subjects. Scarlett held her peace, for it was easier to let well enough alone, and lifewent on smoothly3 enough, on the surface. His impersonal4 courtesy toward her that had begunduring her convalescence5 continued and he did not fling softly drawled barbs6 at her or sting herwith sarcasm7. She realized now that though he had infuriated her with his malicious8 comments androused her to heated rejoinders, he had done it because he cared what she did and said. Now shewondered if he cared about anything she did. He was polite and disinterested9 and she missed hisinterest, perverse10 though it had been, missed the old days of bickering11 and retort.

He was pleasant to her now, almost as though she were a stranger; but, as his eyes had oncefollowed her, they now followed Bonnie. It was as though the swift flood of his life had beendiverted into one narrow channel. Sometimes Scarlett thought that if Rhett had given her one-halfthe attention and tenderness he lavished12 on Bonnie, life would have been different. Sometimes itwas hard to smile when people said: “How Captain Butler idolizes that child!” But, if she did notsmile, people would think it strange and Scarlett hated to acknowledge, even to herself, that shewas jealous of a little girl, especially when that little girl was her favorite child. Scarlett alwayswanted to be first in the hearts of those around her and it was obvious now that Rhett and Bonniewould always be first with each other.

Rhett was out late many nights but he came home sober on these nights. Often she heard himwhistling softly to himself as he went down the hall past her closed door. Sometimes men camehome with him in the late hours and sat talking in the dining room around the brandy decanter.

They were not the same men with whom he had drunk the first year they were married. No richCarpetbaggers, no Scalawags, no Republicans came to the house now at his invitation. Scarlett,creeping on tiptoe to the banister of the upstairs hall, listened and, to her amazement13, frequentlyheard the voices of René Picard, Hugh Rising, the Simmons boys and Andy Bonnell. And alwaysGrandpa Merriwether and Uncle Henry were there. Once, to her astonishment14, she heard the tonesof Dr. Meade. And these men had once thought hanging too good for Rhett!

This group was always linked in her mind with Frank’s death, and the late hours Rhett keptthese days reminded her still more of the times preceding the Klan foray when Frank lost his life.

She remembered with dread15 Rhett’s remark that he would even join their damned Klan to be respectable,though he hoped God would not lay so heavy a penance16 on his shoulders. SupposeRhett, like Frank—One night when he was out later than usual she could stand the strain no longer. When she heardthe rasp of his key in the lock, she threw on a wrapper and, going into the gas lit upper hall, methim at the top of the stairs. His expression, absent, thoughtful, changed to surprise when he sawher standing17 there.

“Rhett, I’ve got to know! I’ve got to know if you—if it’s the Klan—is that why you stay out solate? Do you belong—”

In the flaring18 gas light he looked at her incuriously and then he smiled.

“You are way behind the times,” he said. “There is no Klan in Atlanta now. Probably not inGeorgia. You’ve been listening to the Klan outrage19 stories of your Scalawag and Carpetbagger friends.”

“No Klan? Are you lying to try to soothe20 me?”

“My dear, when did I ever try to soothe you? No, there is no Klan now. We decided21 that it didmore harm than good because it just kept the Yankees stirred up and furnished more grist for theslander mill of his Excellency, Governor Bullock. He knows he can stay in power just so long ashe can convince the Federal government and the Yankee newspapers that Georgia is seething22 withrebellion and there’s a Klansman hiding behind every bush. To keep in power he’s beendesperately manufacturing Klan outrage stories where none exist, telling of loyal Republicansbeing hung up by the thumbs and honest darkies lynched for rape23. But he’s shooting at anonexistent target and he knows it. Thank you for your apprehensions24, but there hasn’t been anactive Klan since shortly after I stopped being a Scalawag and became an humble25 Democrat26.”

Most of what he said about Governor Bullock went in one ear and out the other for her mindwas mainly occupied with relief that there was no Klan any longer. Rhett would not be killed asFrank was killed; she wouldn’t lose her store or his money. But one word of his conversation swamto the top of her mind. He had said “we,” linking himself naturally with those he had once calledthe “Old Guard.”

“Rhett” she asked suddenly, “did you have anything to do with the breaking up of the Klan?”

He gave her a long look and his eyes began to dance. “My love, I did. Ashley Wilkes and I aremainly responsible.”

　　“Ashley—and you?”

　　“Yes, platitudinously but truly, politics make strange bedfellows. Neither Ashley nor I caredmuch for each other as bedfellows but— Ashley never believed in the Klan because he’s againstviolence of any sort. And I never believed in it because it’s damned foolishness and not the way toget what we want. It’s the one way to keep the Yankees on our necks till Kingdom Come. And betweenAshley and me, we convinced the hot heads that watching, waiting and working would getus further than nightshirts and fiery27 crosses.”

　　“You don’t mean the boys actually took your advice when you—”

　　“When I was a speculator? A Scalawag? A consorter with Yankees? You forget Mrs. Butler, thatI am now a Democrat in good standing, devoted28 to my last drop of blood to recovering our belovedstate from the hands of her ravishers! My advice was good advice and they took it. My advice inother political matters is equally good. We have a Democratic majority in the legislature now,haven’t we? And soon, my love, we will have some of our good Republican friends behind thebars. They are a bit too rapacious29 these days, a bit too open.”

　　“You’d help put them in jail? Why, they were your friends! They let you in on that railroad-bondbusiness that you made thousands out of!”

　　Rhett grinned suddenly, his old mocking grin.

　　“Oh, I bear them no ill will. But I’m on the other side now and if I can assist in any way inputting30 them where they belong, I’ll do it. And how that will redound31 to my credit! I know justenough about the inside of some of these deals to be very valuable when the legislature starts digging into them—and that won’t be far off, from the way things look now. They’re going toinvestigate the governor, too, and they’ll put him in jail if they can. Better tell your good friendsthe Gelerts and the Hundons to be ready to leave town on a minute’s notice, because if they cannab the governor, they’ll nab them too.”

　　For too many years Scarlett had seen the Republicans, backed up by the force of the YankeeArmy, in power in Georgia to believe Rhett’s light words. The governor was too stronglyentrenched for any legislature to do anything to him, much less put him in jail.

　　“How you do run on,” she observed.

　　“If he isn’t put in jail, at least he won’t be reelected. We’re going to have a Democratic governornext time, for a change.”

　　“And I suppose you’ll have something to do with it?” she questioned sarcastically32.

　　“My pet, I will. I am having something to do with it now. That’s why I stay out so late at nights.

　　I’m working harder than I ever worked with a shovel33 in the gold rush, trying to help get theelection organized. And—I know this will hurt you, Mrs. Butler, but I am contributing plenty ofmoney to the organization, too. Do you remember telling me, years ago, in Frank’s store, that itwas dishonest for me to keep the Confederate gold? At last I’ve come to agree with you and theConfederate gold is being spent to get the Confederates back into power.”

　　“You’re pouring money down a rat hole!”

　　“What! You call the Democratic party a rat hole?” His eyes mocked her and then were quiet,expressionless. “It doesn’t matter a damn to me who wins this election. What does matter is thateveryone knows I’ve worked for it and that I’ve spent money on it. And that’ll be remembered inBonnie’s favor in years to come.”

　　“I was almost afraid from your pious34 talk that you’d had a change of heart, but I see you’ve gotno more sincerity35 about the Democrats36 than about anything else.”

　　“Not a change of heart at all. Merely a change of hide. You might possibly sponge the spots off aleopard but he’d remain a leopard37, just the same.”

　　Bonnie, awakened38 by the sound of voices in the hall, called sleepily but imperiously: “Daddy!”

　　and Rhett started past Scarlett.

　　“Rhett, wait a minute. There’s something else I want to tell you. You must stop taking Bonniearound with you in the afternoons to political meetings. It just doesn’t look well. The idea of a littlegirl at such places! And it makes you look so silly. I never dreamed that you took her until UncleHenry mentioned it, as though he thought I knew and—”

　　He swung round on her and his face was hard.

　　“How can you read wrong in a little girl sitting on her father’s lap while he talks to friends? Youmay think it looks silly but it isn’t silly. People will remember for years that Bonnie sat on my lapwhile I helped run the Republicans out of this state. People will remember for years—” Thehardness went out of his face and a malicious light danced in his eyes. “Did you know that whenpeople ask her who she loves best, she says ‘Daddy and the Demiquats,’ and who she hates most,she says: ‘The Scallywags.’ People, thank God, remember things like that”

　　Scarlett’s voice rose furiously. “And I suppose you tell her I’m a Scalawag!”

　　“Daddy!” said the small voice, indignant now, and Rhett, still laughing, went down the hall tohis daughter.

　　That October Governor Bullock resigned his office and fled from Georgia. Misuse39 of publicfunds, waste and corruption40 had reached such proportions during his administration that the edificewas toppling of its own weight. Even his own party was split, so great had public indignationbecome. The Democrats had a majority in the legislature now, and that meant just one thing.

　　Knowing that he was going to be investigated and fearing impeachment41, Bullock did not wait. Hehastily and secretly decamped, arranging that his resignation would not become public until he wassafely in the North.

　　When it was announced, a week after his flight, Atlanta was wild with excitement and joy.

　　People thronged42 the streets, men laughing and shaking hands in congratulation, ladies kissing eachother and crying. Everybody gave parties in celebration and the fire department was kept busyfighting the flames that spread from the bonfires of jubilant small boys.

　　Almost out of the woods! Reconstruction’s almost over! to be sure, the acting43 governor was aRepublican too, but the election was coming up in December and there was no doubt in anyone’smind as to what the result would be. And when the election came, despite the frantic44 efforts of theRepublicans, Georgia once more had a Democratic governor.

　　There was joy then, excitement too, but of a different sort from that which seized the town whenBullock took to his heels. This sober heartfelt joy, a deep-souled feeling of thanksgiving,andthechurcheswerefill(was) ed(a) asmin(more) isters reverently45 thanked God for the deliveranceof the state. There was pride too, mingled46 with the elation47 and joy, pride that Georgia was back inthe hands of her own people again, in spite of all the administration in Washington could do, inspite of the army, the Carpetbaggers, the Scalawags and the native Republicans.

　　Seven times Congress had passed crushing acts against the state to keep it a conquered province,three times the army had set aside civil law. The negroes had frolicked through the legislature,grasping aliens had mismanaged the government, private individuals had enriched themselvesfrom public funds. Georgia had been helpless, tormented48, abused, hammered down. But now, inspite of them all, Georgia belonged to herself again and through the efforts of her own people.

　　The sudden overturn of the Republicans did not bring joy to everyone. There was consternationin the ranks of the Scalawags, the Carpetbaggers and the Republicans. The Gelerts and Hundons,evidently apprised49 of Bullock’s departure before his resignation became public, left town abruptly,disappearing into that oblivion from which they had come. The other Carpetbaggers andScalawags who remained were uncertain, frightened, and they hovered50 together for comfort,wondering what the legislative51 investigation52 would bring to light concerning their own privateaffairs. They were not insolent53 now. They were stunned54, bewildered, afraid. And the ladies whocalled on Scarlett said over and over:

　　“But who would have thought it would turn out this way? We thought the governor was toopowerful. We thought he was here to stay. We thought—”

　　Scarlett was equally bewildered by the turn of events, despite Rhett’s warning as to the directionit would take. It was not that she was sorry Bullock had gone and the Democrats were back again.

　　Though no one would have believed it she, too, felt a grim happiness that the Yankee rule was atlast thrown off. She remembered all too vividly55 her struggles during those first days ofReconstruction, her fears that the soldiers and the Carpetbaggers would confiscate56 her money andher property. She remembered her helplessness and her panic at her helplessness and her hatred57 ofthe Yankees who had imposed this galling58 system upon the South. And she had never stoppedhating them. But, in trying to make the best of things, in trying to obtain complete security, she hadgone with the conquerors59. No matter how much she disliked them, she had surrounded herself withthem, cut herself off from her old friends and her old ways of living. And now the power of theconquerors was at an end. She had gambled on the continuance of the Bullock regime and she hadlostAs she looked about her, that Christmas of 1871, the happiest Christmas the state had known inover ten years, she was disquieted60. She could not help seeing that Rhett, once the most execratedman in Atlanta, was now one of the most popular, for he had humbly61 recanted his Republicanheresies and given his time and money and labor62 and thought to helping63 Georgia fight her wayback. When he rode down the streets, smiling, tipping his hat, the small blue bundle that wasBonnie perched before him on his saddle, everyone smiled back, spoke64 with enthusiasm andlooked with affection on the little girl. Whereas, she, Scarlett—

　　自从思嘉生了那场病以后，她感觉到瑞德的态度发生了变化，她说不准自己对这种变化是否喜欢。他变得清醒了，安静了，有时还有点心神不定似的。他现在时常回家吃晚饭，对仆人更和气，对韦德和爱拉也更亲热了。他从来不提过去的事，无论是愉快的或不愉快的，而且常常以沉默的态度让思嘉也不要提起。思嘉也乐得安静，因为相安无事总是比较好的，所以生活过得十分愉快顺畅，至少表面上是如此。从她养病期间开始，瑞德就对她保持一种一般的殷勤态度，现在还是这样。他不再用拉长的声调和柔和而略显嘲弄的口气对她说话，也不用辛辣的讽刺来折磨她。她现在才明白，尽管他过去用恶言恶语来激怒她，使得她作出强烈的反应，但他之所以要那样做，毕竟是由于关心她的所作所为。可如今他还关心她的事吗？那就很难说了。他显得客气而谈漠。可她却很怀念他以前的那种关心，即使叫你感到别扭也好。她怀念过去那种吵吵嚷嚷的日子。

　　现在他很能使她高兴了，几乎像个客人似的；但是正如他过去整天盯着思嘉一刻也不放松那样，现在却整天盯着邦妮了。仿佛他的生活的洪流被引入了一条狭窄的河道。有时思嘉觉得，只要他把倾注在邦妮身上的心血和疼爱分一半给她，生活就会不一样了。只要听到人家说：“巴特勒船长多么宠爱那个孩子呀！"她就万分感慨，连笑都笑不出来了。可是，她要是不笑，人们就会觉得奇怪，而思嘉甚至对自己也决不承认她会妒忌一个小女孩，何况这女孩还是她的亲生呢。思嘉一贯是要在周围每个人心目中占居第一位的，但现在很明显，瑞德和邦妮已经在彼此的心中互占第一位了。

　　瑞德有时一连几夜回来得很晚，但回来时并没有喝醉。她常常听见他轻轻地吹着口哨经过她那关着的房门向穿堂走去。有他在深夜带着几个人一道回来，然后坐在饭厅里饮酒谈笑。这并不是他婚后头一年时常来喝酒的那些人。现在他邀请来家的人中已没有提包党人，没有拥护共和党的南部白人，也没有共和党分子了。思嘉每每手脚到楼道栏杆边去听他们谈话，并且时常惊异地听到雷内·皮卡德、休·埃尔辛、安迪·邦内尔以及西蒙斯兄弟的声音。梅里韦瑟爷爷和和亨利叔叔也常常在内。有一次她还大为吃惊地听见米德大夫的声音。这些人本来都认为瑞德是罪该万死的呢！

　　这一群人在思嘉心中是永远跟弗兰克的死连在一起的，而且近来瑞德回家很晚，这叫她更加想起三Ｋ党作案和弗兰克丧命以前好几次的情况。她惊惶地记起，瑞德曾说过他甚至想参加该死的三Ｋ党来挤进上流社会呢，尽管他也希望上帝不要给他一个那么严厉的惩罚。假使瑞德也像弗兰克那样----有天夜里比平常更晚了，他还没有回来，她紧张得实在受不了了。等到听见他在开房门锁时，她披上围巾。走进点着灯的楼上穿堂里，在楼梯顶上碰见了他。他一见她站在那里，那茫然沉思的面容就变了。

　　“瑞德，我一定要知道！瑞德，我一定要知道，你是不是----是不是因为三Ｋ党----所以才这么晚回来？你是不是加入----"在耀眼的灯光下，他好奇地望着她，接着便不禁笑了。

　　“你已经远远落在时代后面了，"他说。"现在亚特兰大已经没有三Ｋ党了。也许并非全佐治亚都是这样。你是不是听你那些白人渣滓和提包党朋友讲三Ｋ党作恶的故事，听得太多了。"“没有三Ｋ党？你这是在说假话安慰我吧？"“亲爱的，我几时想安慰过你？不，真的没有三Ｋ党了。

　　我们肯定它弊多利少，因为那只能引起北方佬经常骚扰不休，同时给州长大人布洛克提供更多有用的资料。他明白只要能使联邦政府、北方佬新闻界相信佐治亚还在准备叛乱，还到处潜伏着三Ｋ党，他就可以安安稳稳地继续当他的州长。为了达到继续当权的目的，他一直在无中生有地拼命编造三Ｋ党暴行的故事，说忠庆的共和党人怎么被暗暗吊死，老实的黑人怎样以强奸的罪名被处以私刑。但所有这些都暗胡编乱造，他自己也很清楚。多谢你的担心，不过，在我不再拥护共和党而成为一个恭顺的民主党人以后不久，就没有三Ｋ党的活动了。"他所说的关于布洛克州长的那些话，思嘉一只耳朵进，一只耳出，因为她的心思全都集中在三Ｋ党的问题上，只要不再有三Ｋ党她就放心了。瑞德就不会再像弗兰那样丧命了；她也不会丢掉她的店铺和他的那些钱了。但是，他说的有一个词却引起了她的特别的注意。她说过"我们"，这不就把他自己跟那些他以前称为"老团兵"的人自然地连在一起了吗？

　　“瑞德，"她突然部，"你跟三Ｋ党的解散有没有关系呢？"他看了她好一会，两只眼睛又飞舞起来。

　　“亲爱的，有关系呢。艾希礼·威尔克斯和我负有主要责任。"“艾希礼----和你？"”是的，按照一般而确切的说法是这样，因为政治这东西是能够把完全不同的两个人结合在一起的。艾希礼和我谁也不怎么喜欢彼此结为同伙，不过----艾希礼从来不相信三Ｋ党，因为他反对一切暴力。而我不相信它，则是觉得它的办法实太太愚蠢，根本达不到我们的目的。它这样干只能维持北方佬对我们的压制，直到来世为止。在艾希礼和我两之间有一种默契，那就是说服那些狂热分子，只要我们耐心地观察，等待和工作，我们就会取得比三Ｋ党那一套更大的进展。““你不是说那些小伙子们实际上接受了你的忠告，而你----""而我当过投机商当过拥护共和党的白人渣滓当过北方佬的同伙你忘了，巴特勒太太？我如今是个有地位的民主党人，正在不惜流尽最后一滴血来把我们这个心爱的州从掠夺者的手中夺回来，恢复它原来应有的地位呢！我的忠告是个很好的忠告，他们接受了。我在别的政治问题上的忠告也同样是好的。如今我们已在立法机构中占有多数席位了，不是吗？而且很快，亲爱的，我们就要让我们的某些共和党友好去尝尝铁窗滋味了。他们近来实在是太贪婪太放肆了一点呢。"“你要出力把他们关进监狱里去？怎么，可他们是你的朋友呀，他们曾让你参与那桩铁路债券的生意，让你从中赚了一大笔钱！"瑞德突然咧嘴一笑，还是以前那副嘲弄人的模样。

　　“唔，我对他们并没有恶意。不过我现在站到了另一个方面，只要我能够出力让他们落得个罪有应得的下场，我是会干的。而且，那会大大提高我的声望呢！我对有些交易的内情十分清楚，等到立法机构深入追究时，那是很有价值的----而且从目前局势看，这已经为期不远了。他们也在开始调查州长的情况，只要可能，他们就会把他送进监狱去。你最好告诉你的好友盖勒特家和亨登家，叫他们准备好一有风声就立即离开城市，因为人家既然能逮捕州长，就更能逮捕他们了。“思嘉眼看共和党人凭借北方佬军队的支持在佐治亚当政了那么多年，因此对瑞德这些轻松的话并不太相信。州长的地位应该是巩固了，立法机构丝毫也奈何他不得，哪还谈得上进监狱呢！

　　“瞧你说的，"她好像要提醒他注意。

　　“他即使不蹲监狱，至少也不会再当选联。下一届我们将选出一位民主党人当州长，换换班嘛。"“我想你大概会参与的吧？"她用讽刺的口气问。

　　“我的宝贝，我会的。我现在就参与了呢，这便是我夜里回来得很晚的原因。我比从前用铁锨挖金矿时还要卖力，拼命帮助组织下一届选举。还有----我知道，你听了会恼火的，巴特勒太太----我在给这次组织活动捐献一大笔钱呢。你还记得吗，许多年前你在弗兰克的店铺里告诉过我，说我保留联盟政府的黄金不交出来是不诚实的。现在我终于同意你的看法，联盟的黄金正在用来帮助联盟分子重新当政呢。"“你这是把金钱往耗子洞里倒呀！"“什么！你把民主党叫做耗子洞？“他用嘲弄的眼光盯着她，接着便安静下来，没有什么表情了。"这次选举谁胜谁负，与我毫无关系。重要的是让大家都知道我为它出过力气，花过钱。这一点被大家记住了，将来对邦妮是大有好处的。"“我听见你那样虔诚地说你改变了心肠时，我差一点给吓住了，可现在我发现你对民主党人并不比任何别的东西更有诚意呢。"”这根本谈不上改变心肠。只不过是换一张皮罢了。你可以把豹子身上的斑点刮掉，可它仍然是豹子，跟原来完全一样。"这时邦妮被穿堂的声响惊醒了，她睡意朦胧而又急切地喊着：“爹爹！"于是瑞德绕过思嘉，赶忙赶到孩子那里去了。

　　“瑞德，等一等。我还有件事情要告诉你，你以后下午不要再带邦妮一起去参加那些政治集会，让一个小女孩到那种地方，太不像样了！而且你自己也会叫人笑话的。我做梦也没想到你会带着她，直到最近亨利叔叔提起，他似乎以为我知道，并且----"他猛地朝她转过身来，面孔板得紧紧得。

　　“一个小女孩坐在父亲膝上，而他在跟朋友们讲话，你怎么会认为这样不像样了呢？你觉得好笑，但实际上没有什么可笑的。人们会期记住，当我在帮助把共和党人赶出这个州时，邦妮就坐在我膝上呢。人们会期记住----"他那板着的面孔放松了，两只眼睛又恶意地飞舞起来。"你不知不知道，当人们问她最喜欢谁时，她回答说：'爹爹和民主党人'，又问最恨谁呢，她说：'白人渣滓'。感谢上帝，人们就是记得这种事！"思嘉气得厉声喊道：“我想你会告诉她我就是白人渣滓了！““爹爹，"邦妮又在呼唤，而且显得有点生气了。这时瑞德仍然嬉笑着，他穿过门厅向女儿走去。

　　那年十月布洛克州长宣告辞职，逃离了佐治亚。在他的任期内，滥用公款和贪污浪费达到了严重的程度，以致压得他终于垮台。公众的愤怒十分强烈，连他自己的党也陷于分裂崩溃。民主党人在立法机构中占据了多数，但喧只是一个方面。布洛克知道他正要受到调查，生怕被弹劾，便采取了主动。他匆忙而秘密地撤走，并按照事先的布置，等到他安全抵达北方以后才宣布辞职的消息。

　　他逃走后一个星期，消息正式宣布，亚特兰大全城为之欢腾。人们全聚集在街头，男人们笑嘻嘻地相互握手道贺，妇女们彼此亲吻着，哭叫着。大家都在家里举行庆贺晚会。这时消防队忙着全城到处奔跑，因为欢乐的小孩子们在户外燃起了喜庆篝火，一不小就会蔓延开了。

　　差不多度过难关了！重建时期眼看就要过去了！不用说，代理州长仍是个共和党人，但是选举到十二月间就要举行，人人心里都明白结果会怎么样。选择开始后，尽管共和党人拼命地疯狂挣扎，佐治亚还是又一次选出了一个民主党州长。

　　那时又是一番欢喜和兴奋，不过跟布洛克逃跑后侠城震动的情况不一样。这次是一种很清醒的衷心喜悦，一种出自灵魂深处的感恩之情，因此当牧师们感谢上帝挽救了这个州时，堂里总是挤得满满的。人们也感到骄傲，是与得意和欢欣汇合在一起的骄傲，觉得佐治亚又回到自己人的手中了----无论华盛顿政府怎么防范，也无论军队、提包党、白人渣滓和本地共和党人怎样阻拦，它终于又回来了。

　　国会曾几次通过反对佐治亚州的严厉法规，硬要保持它的被征服的地位，军队也在这里先后三次取消了民法，实行军管。黑人由于立法机构的纵容曾乐得逍遥嬉戏，贪婪的外来者渎职舞弊，损公肥私，胡乱管理州务，佐治业曾经被钉上枷锁，受尽屈辱折磨，陷入绝望的境地。但是现在，这一切全都结束了。佐治亚又重新属于它自己，而且是通过它人民的自己努力而获得的。

　　共和党人的突然垮台并没有使所有的人都感到高兴。它在那些白人渣滓、提包党和共和党人中引起了一片惊慌。盖勒特家和亨登家的人得到布洛克在宣布辞职前离开的消息后，也仓皇外逃，各自回到他们原来的地方去了。那些留下来的提包党和白人渣滓都惶惶不安，为了互相安慰而赶快聚集在一起，并担心立法机关的调查会揭露出什么有关他们个人的案子来。他们现在惊慌失措，困惑莫解，惶恐万状。不再那么傲慢无礼了。那些前来看望思嘉的女人则反反复复地诉说：“可是谁会想到事情竟落到这个地步呀？我们还以为州长的权力大极了。我们以为他会还待在这里。我们以为----"思嘉也同样被目前拉形势弄得困惑不解了，尽管瑞德曾经给她提示过它的发展趋向。她感到遗憾的不是布洛克走了和民主党人又回来了。尽管说起来谁都不会相信，但她确实对于北方佬州政府终于被推翻一事也隐约地感到高兴。因为她对于自己在重建时期的艰苦挣扎，以及对于军队和提包党随时可能没收她的金钱和产业的恐惧，还记忆犹新啊！她还清楚地记得，那时候自己多么孤苦无助，以及因此而多么惶恐：而对于这个可恶的制度强加在南方头上的北方佬，又是多么的仇恨。而且，她一直在恨他们呢。不过，当时为了获得最大的安全，她曾经跟北方佬走到一起了。无论她多么不喜欢他们，她还是屈服了他们，自己割断了同老朋友们和以前那种生活方式的联系。可如今，征服者的权势已经完蛋了！

　　她把赌注押到了布洛克政权的持续上，所以她也就完了！

　　一八七一年的圣诞节是佐治亚人近十年来最愉快的一个圣诞节，思嘉环顾周围，心里很不是滋味。她不得不看到，本来在亚特兰大最令人厌恶的瑞德，由于乖乖放弃了共和党的那套邪说，又付出了不少的时间、金钱和精力帮助佐治亚打回来，现在已成为最受欢迎的人了。他骑着马在大街上走过，一路上微笑着举帽致意，而浑身天蓝色的邦妮横坐在他胸前，这时人人都微笑答礼，热情问候，并钟爱地瞧着那位小姑娘。

　　至于她，思嘉呢----