Scarlettwished she had not confided in her.
Do you think Id let them get
Ashleys baby? It put her on the same level with the snarly haired Mrs.
Scarlettwished she had not confided in her.
She said Cade would bust when he
came home and heard aboutit.
Scarlett saw it was Ellens gold thimble that he
held. There was nothing she could do about it either,except watch.
And whether
the Confederacy won or lost,times would be better. Dont you want to go back in
thehouse and sit down?
Well leave her thet to remember us by, grinned the
sergeant. Hand um to me, said the sergeant, putting outhis hands. It was a
relief to hear the truth put so baldly. I nearly died, thinking about you and
the baby alone. And, as the child only gripped her skirt the tighter, she
saidclearly: Be a little man, Wade.
For a moment Scarlett paused before
answering. Theyd take everything and leave them to starve. Well leave her thet
to remember us by, grinned the sergeant.
Ho, lady, he said, I was at Buena
Vista myself.
And they saidthe Yankees were camped all over Tara and your folks
were fixing togo to Macon.
Wade was ather heels, sobbing, trying to catch her
flying skirts. Though Melanies lap was soft, the porch on whichshe was lying
was far from comfortable. Allour field hands are gone and theres nobody to pick
it.
I is part Indian and Indians doanforgit them as is good to them. Scarlett
said gratefully: Thank you, Sugarbaby, but lookedworriedly at her younger
sister. Perhaps by next spring the war would be over and goodtimes would be
back. She said Cade would bust when he came home and heard aboutit.
Your mother
is dead, and its just like I was hearing it again forthe first time.
And, as
the child only gripped her skirt the tighter, she saidclearly: Be a little man,
Wade. I came back as soon as I got the stock safe in thewoods. Scarlett refused
to listen to the protests and drove them all intothe cotton rows. I never
thought you liked her any too well,Miss, for all she was Charles sister. Of
course, this little cotton she had gathered was not much but itwas something.
She knew she could not tell them Ellen wasdead.
You git unner dat house an han
me dem shoats! We dont know athing except that Sherman finally got the
town.
Dilcey alone said nothing and she fixed herPrissy with an unwinking eye
that made her squirm.
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