In their first joy, they could think of nothing
exceptthat he was alive. A pagan hearingthe lapping of the waters around Charons
boat could not have feltmore desolate. Wilkes, I will use what influence I have
inWashington to learn about Mr. But, for the most part, Atlanta was not disturbed by
the prospectof fighting near Dalton. Now she would have him for herself for a few
preciousminutes. He stopped speaking and his hands dropped from her face, but
hiseyes still clung to her eyes. Take care of yourself or, before God, I wont turn a
hand. In hisarms Wade slept contentedly, a cleanly picked wishbone in his
smallhand.
Her heart sank with bitter
disappointment.
She was happy thosetwo months, happier than she had
been in years. Dont forget to put a newspaper across yourchest under your shirt. The
door closed behind them, leaving Scarlett open mouthed andsuddenly desolate. After
she had nodded, itdid not seem so dreadful, for he looked so kind and so concerned.
Theunravaged state was a vast granary, machine shop and storehouse forthe
Confederacy. Three-fourths of all the men sent there never came out alive. It was
the unhappiest face she was ever to see, a face fromwhich all aloofness had fled.
Melanie did not even look up when Ashleyopened the bedroom door, but sped inside. At
the first touch of his lips on hers, her arms were about hisneck in a strangling
grip.
Scarlett, she said, putting out her hands. Yes,
keep an eye on her, take care of her.
In hisarms Wade slept contentedly, a cleanly picked
wishbone in his smallhand. With the new fall of currency, prices soared again.
Shoesand clothing for the army were scarce, ordnance supplies and drugswere scarcer.
She was sure of that now, andthis conviction was so pleasant she could even be
kinder toMelanie. There are no deserters in theConfederate army.
And anyway,Id rather remember you saying good-by to
me here than shivering atthe depot. Ladies now wore gaiters made oftheir old wool
shawls and cut-up carpets.
And the Yankees had been driven out of Georgia,
back intoTennessee.
Dont forget to put a newspaper across yourchest
under your shirt.
Oh, Scarlett, I dont know how I shallever write
Ashley! Ladies now wore gaiters made oftheir old wool shawls and cut-up carpets.
Hope firm, unshaken despite the defeats ofthe summer before.
And for a man, especially RhettButler, to ask such
a question was unthinkable.
Then, when the sleets of March were keeping
everyone indoors, thehideous blow fell.
She did not seehow she could ever look at Melanie
again and not have her secretread in her face.