Most Romantics love story ever part 2 Learn English through story level 3

chapter one

money problems

on a cold january afternoon in 1868

scarlett o’hara was writing to aunt pity

when will bentine came into the room

miss scarlett he said

how much money do you have

she stared at him

wondering if something was wrong

i’ve got ten dollars in gold

the last of that yankees money

that won’t be enough for the taxes

he said

taxes

said scarlett

we’ve already paid the taxes

miss scarlet you don’t go to jonesboro

often and i’m glad you don’t he said

a lot of yankees and carpetbaggers are

given the orders now

but what’s that got to do with our taxes

said scarlet

they’re putting the value on tara sky

high

and you’ll have to pay more tax

said will

if you can’t

tara will be sold

and i’ve heard that somebody is hoping

to get it cheap

will and ashley looked after any

business in jonesboro and had agreed not

to tell scarlett the more worrying

details of what was happening

but will could not hide this from her

those yankees she cried

wasn’t it enough for them to win the war

how much extra do they want us to pay

three hundred dollars

said will

then we’ve got to get three hundred

dollars somehow

she said

they can’t sell tara

will looked angry

they can

and they’ll enjoy doing it

the country has gone to hell if you’ll

excuse my saying so miss scarlet

carpet baggers and white trash can vote

and most southern gentlemen can’t

anyone who was on the tax books for more

than 2 000 before the war can’t vote

men like your paw and mr tarlton

i could vote if i took their oath and

became a yankee but i’ll never do that

but people like

jonas wilkerson and the slatteries

they can vote

and they’re given the orders now

vote

cried scarlet

it’s taxes we’re talking about

we’ll we could borrow money on tara and

and who has any money to lend you on

this place

only the carpet baggers were trying to

take it away from you

i’ve got the jewelry i took off the

yankee

miss scarlett

who has money for jewelry around here

said will

most people ain’t got enough money to

buy meat

they were silent for several minutes

where is mr wilkes she said

he’s in the field cutting wood

said will

scarlett had not had a private talk with

ashley since his return

because melanie was always with him

but she found him alone in the field and

told him the

news only one person we know has money

he said

that’s rhett butler

a letter from aunt pity had said that

rhett butler was back in atlanta

looking rich don’t talk about him said

scarlett

what about us

ashley stared across the fields

what will happen to everybody in the

south he said

i can’t help scarlet

the world i belong to has gone

and i’m afraid

i can’t make you understand these things

because you’re never afraid you face the

real world without wanting to escape it

but i can’t

escape

cried scarlet

oh ashley i do want to escape

i’m so

tired of it all

let’s run away

we could go to mexico

they want officers in the mexican army

you know you don’t love melanie you told

me you loved me that day at 12 oaks and

i know you haven’t changed

we were going to forget that day at 12

oaks he said

do you think i could ever forget it she

said

his voice was deadly quiet

and do you think i could leave melanie

and the baby

scarlett

you’re sick and tired that’s why you’re

talking this way

but i’m gonna help you

there’s only one way to help me

she said

take me away

there’s nothing to keep us here

only honor

he said quietly

she began to cry

and he took her into his arms and

pressed her head against his chest

whispering

you mustn’t cry

and he kissed her

hungrily as if he could never have

enough

you do love me

she cried

you do love me say it

he pushed her away

don’t he said

or i shall make love to you now here in

the field

she smiled

remembering the feel of his mouth on

hers

we won’t do this he cried

and it will never happen again because

i’ll take melanie and the baby and go

go

she cried oh no

yes by god he said

do you think i’ll stay here now when

this might happen again

but actually you can’t go

you love me

all right i love you

and a moment ago i almost took you like

a

he could not find the words

scarlett felt a cold pain in her heart

if you felt like that and didn’t take me

then you don’t love me she said

i can never make you understand he said

there’s nothing left for me to fight for

she said

he picked up some of the red earth at

his feet

there is something left he said

something you love better than me

there’s tara

and he pressed the wet earth into her

hand

she looked down at it

and suddenly

she knew how very dear that red earth of

tara was to her

and how hard she would fight to keep it

you needn’t go

she said it won’t happen again

chapter 2

return to atlanta

scarlett heard the sound of a horse

and saw a shiny new carriage stop by the

house

jonas wilkerson got out

scarlett was surprised to see the man

who was once her father’s plantation

manager

will had said that jonas had made a lot

of money

mostly by cheating negroes or the

government

and here he was

stepping out of a fine carriage with a

woman who was dressed in fashionable

clothes

the woman looked towards the house

and scarlett recognized her immediately

emmy slattery

she said before she could stop herself

yes it’s me

said emmy

holding her head proudly

emmy slattery

that dirty cheap female whose fatherless

baby scarlett’s mother had helped to

deliver

emmy who gave typhoid to scarlet’s

mother and killed her

that overdressed nasty piece of white

trash was coming up the steps of tara

smiling and looking as if she belonged

there

get off those steps

cried scarlet

get off this land

jonas tried to control his anger

you mustn’t speak like that to my wife

he said

wife

said scarlet

so you’ve made her your wife at last

have you

we came to talk business with old

friends began jonas

friends

said scarlett

my father threw you off this plantation

after you fathered emmy’s baby

and the slatteries took our help

and paid us back by killing my mother

get off this land before i call mr

bentin and mr wilkes

emmy ran back to the carriage but jonas

did not move

still the proud lady

he shouted at scarlet

well

i know your father’s gone crazy

and i know you can’t pay your taxes

i came here to offer to buy this place

but i won’t give you a dollar now

i’ll buy it cheap when it’s sold for

taxes

i’ll pull this house down and plant

every field with salt before either of

you put a foot in it

shouted scarlett

jonas turned and walked angrily to the

carriage

he climbed in next to his wife who was

crying

and they drove off

scarlett was so frightened that she

found it difficult to breathe

jonas wilkerson that tara

never

never never

i’ll get money from rhett she thought

i’ll sell him the yankees jewelry

then i’ll pay the taxes and laugh in

jonas wilkerson’s face

another thought came to her

but i’ll need money for taxes every year

what did rhett said

i want you more than i’ve ever wanted

any woman

i’ll marry him

she thought cooley

then i’ll never have to worry about

money again

but he mustn’t suspect that we’re poor

or he’ll know it’s his money i want and

not him

scarlett and mammy stepped from the

train at atlanta

scarlett had wanted to come alone

but mammy wouldn’t let her

and because mammy had helped scarlett

make a new dress from some curtains

scarlett felt unable to stop her coming

mammy knew about the taxes and that they

were in atlanta to get the money to pay

them

why ain’t you saying where the money is

coming from

she asked suspecting something

in

why do you need a new dress to borrow it

scarlett didn’t answer

they walked to aunt pity’s house

saddened by the city’s burned and

blackened buildings

the streets were full of yankee soldiers

or negroes

who stared at scarlet in an insulting

way as she walked past

a closed carriage came along peachtree

street

and a woman’s head appeared at a window

it was bell wattling

who was that

asked mammy

i’ve never seen hair that color in my

life

she’s the town’s bad woman

said scarlet

and mammy’s mouth fell open

my dear

did i tell you that rhett butler was in

prison

aunt pity said at supper that

evening for a moment scarlett was so

shocked she could only stare

yes went on aunt pity

he’s imprisoned for killing a negro who

insulted a white woman and they may hang

him

how

how long will he be in prison

asked scarlett

nobody knows said aunt pity

and the yankees don’t care whether

people are guilty or not they’re so

worried about the ku klux klan

do you have a clan near tara i’m sure

you do and ashley doesn’t tell you about

it

klansmen aren’t supposed to tell

they ride out at night dressed like

ghosts and call on carpetbaggers who

steal and negroes who were rude or

insulting

sometimes they frighten them and make

them leave

sometimes

they kill them and leave them with the

ku klux kard on them

the yankees are very angry about it

but i don’t believe they’ll hang captain

butler because they think he knows where

the money is

everybody believes he’s got millions of

dollars in gold belonging to the

confederacy

somebody got it and we think it was the

blockaders

millions in gold

scarlett imagined it

she could repair tara and plant miles

and miles of cotton

she could have pretty clothes and a good

doctor to look after paw

and ashley

oh

she could do so much for ashley

chapter 3

prison visiting

there were soldiers talking outside the

yankee prison

scarlett wearing her new dress walked

towards them

can i help you

one asked politely

i want to see captain butler

said scarlett

butler again

that man’s popular

said the soldier

he was also a captain

are you a relation

yes

his

his sister

the captain laughed

he’s got a lot of sisters one of them

was here yesterday

come and wait in the office

scarlett’s face was red as she sat down

on a chair and gave the soldier her name

after a time the door opened and read

appeared

he was dirty and hadn’t shaved but he

came in with a smile and was obviously

happy to see her

scarlett

he said laughing

my dear little sister

he kissed her cheek before she could

stop him

remember

my men are just outside

the captain said

when the door closed after him rhett

moved towards her again can i give you a

real kiss now

he said

she smiled at him

only on the cheek

like a good brother

i’ll wait and hope for better things he

said

when did you arrive in atlanta

yesterday she replied

and you came here this morning

my dear how good of

you and pity told me about you last

night and i just couldn’t sleep

i was so unhappy and worried about you

she said

scarlett it’s wonderful to hear you say

things like that

he said

how pretty you are

let me look at you

she laughed and turned round on her toes

what have you been doing since i last

saw you

he said

she sat down next to him and put a hand

on his arm

the yankees came to tara but they didn’t

burn the house

everything is fine

we did well with our cotton last autumn

and paw says we’ll do better next year

but there are no parties right and i get

bored in the country

i came here to get some dresses

and then i’m going to charleston to

visit my aunt

she gently squeezed his arm

i’m so frightened for you rhett

they won’t really hang you will they

he put his hand on hers

will you be sorry

he said

if you’re sorry enough i’ll put you in

my will

there was laughter in his eyes as he

squeezed her hand

his will

she looked down quickly but not before

he saw the excitement in her face

he watched her closely as he spoke

the yankees think i ran away with the

confederacy gold

well

did you

she said

where did you get all your money

aunt pity says

what rude questions you ask

he said laughing

she was so excited it was difficult to

talk sweetly to him

you’re too clever to let them hang you

she said

you’ll find a way to get out and when

you do

and when i do

he asked moving closer to her

well

i

her face went prettily red again

oh rhett

i’ll die if they hang you

i

she stopped and looked down

scarlett

you can’t mean that you

she tried to cry

would tears seem more natural

she closed her eyes but turned her face

upwards so that he could kiss her more

easily

but he did not kiss her lips

he took her hand and kissed it

then turned it over to kiss the other

side

it was rough from work and the nails

were broken

it wasn’t the soft white hand of scarlet

o’hara

he picked up the other one and looked at

them together

look at me

he said quietly

so everything is fine at tara is it well

these aren’t the hands of a lady

don’t say that

she cried

but she was thinking

why didn’t i wear aunt pitty’s gloves

how stupid

you’ve worked like a field negro he said

dropping them

why did you lie

i almost believed you were sorry for me

but i am sorry

she said

no you aren’t

you want something

tell me what it is instead of behaving

like a prostitute selling yourself

he looked closely at her

did you really think i’d marry you

her face went red

you know i’m not a marrying man

he went on

oh rhett

you can help me

if you’ll just be sweet

what do you want

money

well

yes

i do want some money

said scarlett

i want you to lend me three hundred

dollars

you were talking about love but thinking

about money

he said how like a woman

what will you offer me in return

jewelry

she said

i’m not interested in jewelry

he said

there’s tara

no

he said

what do you want the money for

to pay taxes

said scarlet

all right

i lied about everything being all right

paw is

not himself since mother died

and there are 13 of us to feed and we

never have enough to eat or warm clothes

or

where did you get the dress he asked

it’s made out of some curtains

she said

he was silent for a moment

then he said

i don’t like your first offer

make me another one

she took a deep breath

and looked him straight in the eye

you said you had never wanted a woman as

much as you wanted me

well

well if you still want me

you can have me

he looked back at her

and she felt her face getting hot

then he said let me understand this

if i give you three hundred dollars

you will be my lover

is that right

yes

she said

are you going to give me the money

he smiled

i couldn’t give it to you

i have the money yes

but not here

and i’m not saying where it is or how

much

her face became ugly

and she jumped at him with an angry cry

he held her around the waist as she

tried to bite and kick him

let me go she said

you knew you weren’t going to give me

the money but you let me go on

you’re a hateful pig

he laughed

come to my hanging it will make you feel

better he said

thank you

she said

but they may not hang you until it’s too

late to pay the taxes

chapter four

another plan

it was raining when she started to walk

back to aunt pity’s house

her clothes were soon wet but she didn’t

care

how can i go back to tara and tell them

they must all go

somewhere

she thought

oh

i hope they hang rhett butler

she heard the sound of a carriage and

turned to look

the driver saw her

is it

miss scarlett

he said

oh

mr kennedy

said scarlett

i’m so glad to see you

frank kennedy smiled and looked pleased

as he stopped and helped her into the

carriage

what are you doing in this part of the

town

he said

don’t you know it’s dangerous

scarlett noticed how well dressed he was

the carriage was new too

i didn’t know you were here in atlanta

she said

didn’t miss sue ellen tell you about my

shop

said frank

no

she replied

although she remembered sue ellen did

say something about it

a shop

how clever you must be

i came to atlanta at the end of the war

he explained

and there were beds and blankets on the

train which nobody seemed to want

the yankees were going to burn them but

i got them first

i had ten dollars and used it to put a

roof on an old shop near five points

and i moved the beds and blankets in and

started selling them

i sold them cheap then bought other

things and

sold those too

he looked proud

i made a thousand dollars this year miss

scarlet

500 went to buy more things but i’ll

probably make 2 000 next year

and i’ve already got an idea for another

business

scarlett quickly became interested

you have

she said

he laughed and hurried the horse along

a pretty little woman like you doesn’t

want to hear anything about business

the old fool she thought

but she said

oh but i do

and smiled sweetly

what other business

a sawmill

he said

i haven’t bought it yet but i will

anybody who owns a sawmill can make

money

the yankees burned so many houses and

people have gone crazy building new ones

they can’t get enough wood and they

can’t get it fast enough

i’m going to buy this sawmill as soon as

people pay me some of the money they owe

me his face went red again

you know why i want to make money

quickly don’t you

scarlett knew he was thinking of sue

allen

for a moment she wondered about asking

him to lend her 300

but he won’t she thought

he wants to marry sue ellen in the

spring and if he lends me the money the

wedding will have to wait

oh why does this old fool want to marry

her

once she gets her hands on his money she

won’t care whether tara is sold for

taxes or burned to the ground

suddenly

an idea came into her head

can i make him forget sue allen and ask

me to marry him instead

he’s old enough to be my father but he’s

a gentleman

and now isn’t the time for me to be

fussy

he saw her staring at him

and she looked away quickly

are you cold

he asked

yes

she said in a small voice

may i put my hand in your coat pocket

i forgot to bring my gloves

oh

of course

he said delighted

but

why did you come to this part of town

i

i went to see if the soldiers would buy

some clothes i had made to send home to

their wives

she lied

you went to the yankees

he said shocked

miss scarlett

does miss pity pat know that you

oh

i shall die if you tell aunt pity

said scarlett and began to cry

it was easy to cry because she was so

cold

became embarrassed

he wanted to put her head on his

shoulder but didn’t know what to do

i came to atlanta to try to make a

little money for myself and my son

said scarlett

tears running down her cheeks

and then frank saw that her head

was on his shoulder

although he didn’t know how it had got

there

i won’t tell miss pity pat he said

but you must promise not to do anything

like this again

her green eyes looked up at him

but i must do something

there’s nobody to look after me

or my poor little boy now

there will always be a home for you and

wade with us

when miss sue ellen and i are married

he said

scarlett tried to look embarrassed

is

something wrong

said frank

i

i thought she wrote to you

said scarlett

oh she should be ashamed

oh what an unkind sister i have

frank stared at her

his face gray

what

she’s going to marry tony fontaine next

month lied scarlet

she got tired of waiting for you

during the next two weeks

scarlet made him feel like a strong

warm-hearted man

who was lucky enough to catch a charming

but helpless little woman

and when they stood together to be

married

he still did not know how it had all

happened

and so quickly too

he only knew that for the first time in

his life

he had done something wonderful

and exciting

no friends or relations came to the

wedding

that was how scarlett wanted it

just us too frank

she said

i always wanted to run away and be

married

please dear

just for me

and before he knew it

he was married

chapter five

the sawmill business

frank gave scarlett the three hundred

dollars

although it ended his hopes of buying

the sawmill

but she let him see how happy this made

her and then he was happy too

will wrote to say the taxes were now

paid

and the jonas wilkerson was angry not to

get tara

scarlett knew that will understood why

she had married frank

but wondered what ashley thought of her

she also had a letter from sue ellen

a violent insulting letter

and though many of the things sue ellen

said were true

scarlett never forgave her for saying

them

she knew people in atlanta were talking

about her but she did not care

tara was safe

now she had to make frank realize that

his shop must bring in more money

there were next year’s taxes to pay

and there was still the sawmill

scarlett knew that there was money to be

made from a sawmill

nobody knew just when frank realized

that scarlett had tricked him into

marrying her

sue ellen certainly never wrote to tell

him

perhaps it was when tony fontaine came

to atlanta on business

obviously not married

but frank could not believe scarlett had

married him coldly and without any love

two weeks after the wedding

he became ill

and dr mead sent him to bed

as each day passed frank worried more

and more about the shop

and the boy who was looking after it for

him

i’ll go and see how things are

scarlett told him

when she arrived she sent the boy out

for his dinner then looked at the books

to see just how much money people owed

frank she was shocked to find it was

more than five hundred dollars

and owed by people she knew

the elsings and the merryweathers among

others

frank may be willing to stay poor just

to be friendly with these people she

thought

but i’m not

she was making a list of the names when

the door opened and someone came in

it was rhett butler

my dear mrs kennedy

he said

my very dear mrs kennedy

she stared at him

what are you doing here

she said

i heard you were married

so i came to congratulate you

oh

you are the most

what a pity they didn’t hang you

there are others who share your opinion

he said smiling

how did you get out of prison

she asked

i persuaded a government friend of mine

in washington to speak for me

he said

i knew things about him that he didn’t

want others to know

but you were guilty she said

yes

i did kill the negro

agreed rhett

he insulted a lady

he spoke softly

and don’t tell miss pity pat but yes

i do have the money safe in a bank in

england

[Music]

the money

said scarlet

you have the confederate gold

not all of it

he said laughing there must be 50 or

more blockaders who have some

but i’ve got nearly half a million

if only you had waited and not rushed to

marry

again scarlett felt sick

half a million dollars

it was hard to believe there was so much

money in this cruel world

tell me he said trying not to look too

interested but failing

did you

get the money for the taxes

and suddenly

she knew that this was why he was here

it was not to laugh at her

but to make sure she had got the money

to pay the taxes

oh

how nice he could be sometimes

did he really care about her more than

he was willing to say

yes

i got the money

she said

did you wait until you had the wedding

ring on your finger

he said smiling

and did frank have as much money as he

told you

or did he trick you

you needn’t have secrets from me

scarlett

i know the worst about you

oh rhett

you’re the worst

well

i don’t know what

no

frank didn’t trick me but

suddenly it was good to tell someone her

troubles

rhett

if frank would just ask people for the

money they owe him

i wouldn’t be worried

don’t you have enough to live on he said

yes but

well

i could use a little money

i’ll lend you some money

but i want to know what it’s for

said red

he smiled again and i won’t ask you to

repeat that charming offer you made me

once

europe

she began

i know you’re worrying about that

he went on smoothly

not worrying a lot

but worrying a little

now

why do you want money

not for ashley wilkes i hope

she became hot with anger

ashley wilkes has never taken a dollar

from me

ashley is oh yes

he said

ashley is wonderful

so why doesn’t he take his family and

get out of tara and find work

he’s been working like a field negro

he’s yes he does the best he can

but you’ll never make a farm worker out

of a wilkes now cool down

and tell me how much money you want

and what you wanted for

scarlett tried to control her anger

she wanted to throw his offer back in

his face but she told herself to be

sensible

i want to buy a sawmill

she said it last

and i think i can get it cheap

and i want two wagons and horses and a

horse and carriage for myself

a sawmill

said rhett

yes

she said

are you busy this afternoon

why

he asked

i want you to drive to the sawmill with

me

she said

i want to buy it before you change your

mind

the sawmill

cried frank

you sold your jewelry to captain butler

and bought the sawmill

it was the shock of frank’s life when

scarlet told him

at first he thought she was joking

but he soon discovered that it was no

joke

early each morning she drove out to the

sawmill with uncle peter aunt pity’s old

slave

and did not come back until it was dark

a man called johnson was made manager

and he brought in free negroes to do the

work

and scarlett was soon earning enough

money to talk about buying another

sawmill

frank couldn’t understand it

this wasn’t the soft sweet helpless

person he had married

this scarlet knew what she wanted and

went after it

like a man

and she became angry so easily

he only had to say scarlett i wish you

wouldn’t and it was like a thunderstorm

breaking

a baby

he thought

she needs a baby

then

on a wild wet night in april

tony fontaine rode in from jonesboro and

knocked on their door waking up frank

and scarlet

frank hurried down to let him in

scarlet followed moments later and came

downstairs as tony blew out the lighted

candle frank was holding

they’ll hang me if they catch me

tony was saying

i’m going to texas to hide but i need

another horse frank

you can have mine

said frank

what happened

scarlett asked

you remember eustis

who was one of our slaves

said tony

he came to the kitchen today while sally

was making dinner

i don’t know what he said but i heard

her scream and try to get away

i ran into the kitchen

and there he was

drunk

go on

said scarlett

i shot him

and when mother ran in to look after

sally

i began riding into jonesboro to find

jonas wilkerson

he was to blame

he had talked to those black fools and

told them that negroes could have

anything could have white women

oh tony no

cried scarlet

yes

said tony

on my way past tara i met ashley and he

went with me

we found wilkerson in a bar

and i took my knife to him while ashley

held the others back

it was finished before i knew it

wilkerson was dead and ashley was

putting me on my horse and telling me to

come to you

he’s a good man ashley

but surely if you went back and

explained

tony laughed

scarlett how do you think the yankees

will reward a man for keeping negroes

off his women

by hanging him that’s how

now

i must go

scarlett was afraid someone could rape

or kill her and the yankees would hang

anyone who tried to punish the criminal

she didn’t want her children to grow up

with all this hate and fear

she wanted them to know only warm homes

good clothes and fine food

only money can buy these things she

thought

lots of money

that’s what i’ll have and i don’t care

how i get it

when tony had gone

scarlett told her husband a secret she

had kept for several weeks

frank

she said

i’m going to have a baby

the spring months went by and each day

scarlett went to the sawmill

certain that johnson the manager was

cheating her but unable to catch him

and she went to see builders and people

who were planning new homes

she often lied about the quality of her

wood

and sold bad wood for the same price as

good wood

one man who owned another sawmill openly

called her a liar and a cheat

but it hurt his business

because people would not believe that

someone like scarlet a lady

would behave the way this man was saying

she did

in the end

the man had to sell his business

and scarlett bought it cheap

she had to find someone to manage the

second sawmill

and she gave the job to hugh elsing

he was not a good businessman

but he was honest

people were shocked to see scarlett

doing business with yankees

but scarlett did not care

when i’m rich

she thought

i’ll say what i think of them

but until then

i’ll smile sweetly and take their money

then in early june

a message came from will at tara

gerald scarlett’s father

was dead

chapter six

changes at tara

it was evening when scarlett arrived in

jonesboro

will met her with the wagon and they

drove along the road towards tara

scarlett

i’m going to marry sue ellen

he said

sue ellen

she said

i always thought you loved karine

the only man karine loved

that tartan boy

was killed in the war

and now she’s going into the church in

charleston to live and work

are you joking said scarlet

nope

and you mustn’t argue with her or laugh

at her he said

it’s all she wants now

her heart is broken

but you don’t love sue ellen do you

she said

i do in a way

he said

and ashley and melanie will be going

soon

and i couldn’t live at tara then without

mary and sue ellen

you know how people talk

ashley said scarlett

going where

up north

said will

a yankee friend wrote to him about

working in a bank there

he looked at her

and she had the old feeling that he knew

all about her and ashley

he can’t go she thought

i’ll find him a job at the sawmill

but he must think he’s helping me or he

won’t come

tell me about paw

she said

he wasn’t ill

said will

but

well

about a month ago sue ellen talked to

some people in jonesboro

and afterwards she was all excited

although she didn’t say anything

then she started going for walks with

your paw

i saw her talking to him but i’m sure he

didn’t know what she was saying half of

the time

but now i know that she was trying to

make him take the yankee oath

paw take the yankee oath

cried scarlet

will nodded

so that the yankees would pay a hundred

and fifty thousand dollars for the

cotton they burned at tara during the

war

they’ll do that for any southern

gentleman who takes the oath

a hundred and fifty thousand dollars

said scarlett

and all for signing a loyal oath to the

united states government

that much money for a small lie

scarlett didn’t blame sue ellen

well

sue allen got your father drunk

and took him into jonesborough

and he almost signed it

will went on

but at the last moment he realized what

he was doing

and he threw the paper in sue ellen’s

face

then he rode off like a crazy man

oh

poor paw

said scarlett

that evening

ashley and i heard him riding across the

fields

said will

he tried to jump the fence

look ellen

watch me jump this one he shouted

but the horse stopped and threw him over

the fall broke his neck

gerald o’hara’s funeral was on a hot

june morning

people said kind words to scarlett and

karine

but they did not speak to sue ellen

she had tried to make her father forget

his honor as a loyal southerner and take

the yankee oath

and they would never forgive her for

that

when everyone had gone after the funeral

scarlet asked ashley to speak with her

when they were alone

she offered to make him a half owner in

one of her sawmills in atlanta

ashley you must come she said

it may be months before i can look after

the sawmills now because of the baby

scarlet please he said

i can’t

but you go to new york and live with

yankees she said

yes he said

i’ve decided to go north

i’ve taken too much from you already

scarlett

food a home

clothes for myself and melanie and the

baby

and i can’t

you know i can’t live near you

and you know why

oh

that

she said

i made a promise out in the field last

winter

and i’ll keep it

i can’t be sure i will he said

i’m going to new

york oh

ashley

said scarlet

and began to cry wildly

moments later

melanie came in her eyes wide with worry

scarlett what is it

is it the baby

it’s ashley he’s so

so horrible

shouted scarlett

ashley

what have you done

melanie ran to scarlet

let me explain

said ashley

scarlett was kind enough to offer to

make me manager of one of her sawmills

in atlanta

manager cried scarlet angrily

i offered to make him half owner and he

i told her i had arranged for us to go

north and she

oh

scarlet began to cry again

i told him how much i need him

how i can’t get anybody to manage the

sawmill

and he refused to come

and now i’ll have to sell it

and we’ll probably all go hungry but he

won’t care

ashley

how could you refuse

cried melanie

after all scarlett has done for us

she saved my life in atlanta when my

baby came

and she killed a yankee here to save us

yes

did you know that and now the first time

she asks us to do something for her

oh ashley

just think what it will mean for us to

live in atlanta among our own people

maybe we’ll have a little home of our

own oh ashley

do say yes

scarlett looked into ashley’s tired eyes

as he spoke

i’ll come scarlett

he said

i cannot fight you both

chapter 7

danger in atlanta

scarlett was disappointed when ashley

was not a better businessman than hugh

elsing

but she could do nothing about it until

after her baby was born

i’ll never have another child

she decided

scarlett’s baby was a girl ella

and she was born during a week when a

negro raped a white woman

and was quietly hanged by the ku klux

klan

before he could be brought to the law

scarlet thanked god that ashley was too

sensible to belong to the clan

and that frank was too old and weak

but people stayed at home behind locked

doors

and men were afraid to leave their women

and children unguarded

both ashley and hugh stayed at home

and work at the sawmill stopped which

annoyed scarlett

after three weeks she got up from her

bed

and said that she was going to the

sawmills again

frank and mammy said it was too

dangerous

so scarlett rushed across to ashley’s

house which was at the bottom of aunt

pity’s garden and complained loudly to

melanie

i will go she said

i’ll carry a gun and shoot anybody who

tries to hurt me

melanie was shocked

scarlett i’ll die if anything happens to

you

i’ll tell ashley to go back to the

sawmill at once

what good will he be if he’s worried

about you every minute of the day

said scarlett no

i’ll walk there and get some negro

workmen on the way

no

said melanie

decatur road is full of bad negroes and

you’ll have to pass by there

i’ll think of something

and that afternoon

a tall thin old man with a wooden leg

and only one eye came across the garden

from melanie’s house

he was one of the many old soldiers

without homes or families who stopped at

melanie’s house and were given food and

a place to sleep before moving on again

mrs wilkes sent me to drive for you

he said

my name’s archie

and mrs wilkes has been good to me

so here i am

scarlett didn’t like the look of him but

she said

alright

if my husband agrees

frank was disappointed when the baby did

not change scarlet

but she was determined to go to her

sawmills

so he agreed to let archie drive her

scarlet sometimes wondered about

archie’s earlier life and

one morning

she learned something about it

you can never be sure that free negroes

will come to work

she was saying

i’m going to get some convicts

archie turned to her angrily

the day you get convicts at the sawmills

will be the day i stop working for you

people who use convicts don’t care

they feed them cheaply and get all the

work they can out of them

why do you care she said

because i was a convict

for nearly 40 years

he said

a shocked scarlet listened to his story

archie murdered his wife because she was

his brother’s lover

and he was sent to prison for the rest

of his life

but during the war when things were

going badly for the confederacy

convicts were given the chance to go

free if they fought against the yankees

archie took his chance and was now a

free man

mrs wilkes knows

said archie

i wouldn’t let a nice lady like her take

me into her house without knowing

scarlett said nothing but she thought

a murderer

how could melanie be so

so

oh

there are no words for it

but when she began using convicts

five for each sawmill

archie kept his promise and stopped

driving her

frank also asked scarlett not to use

convicts and at first ashley refused to

work with them

but scarlett got her own way eventually

although ashley did no better with the

convicts than he had with negroes

and now there were gray hairs in his

head and a tired look in his eyes

and he almost never smiled

on a warm december day

scarlett was sitting outside aunt

pitty’s house with her baby when she

looked up to see rhett butler riding

along the road

hello rhett she said

you’ve been away a long time

yes i have

he said

and i was on my way to see you

when i saw mrs ashley wilkes

it was quite a surprise

of course i stopped to talk with her and

she told me that you were kind enough to

make mr wilkes a half owner in your

sawmill

what about it

said scarlett looking guilty

when i lent you that money

you promised not to use it to look after

ashley

he said

scarlett

you have no honor

why do you hate ashley

she said

i don’t

i pity him

his world is gone and he’s like a fish

out of water

how did you get him to come to atlanta

scarlett pushed the memory of the

argument with ashley from her mind

i explained that i needed his help

because i was going to have a baby

he was pleased to come

well

you’ll never get another dollar out of

me

said rhett

he looked down at the baby

i suppose frank is very proud of his

daughter and has lots of plans for her

yes well

you know how silly men are with their

babies

then tell him to stay home at night more

often if he wants to see her grown up

said rhett

what do you mean

said scarlett

are you trying to tell me that frank is

is

oh

rhett laughed loudly

i didn’t mean he was seeing other women

frank oh

how funny

and he went away laughing

chapter eight

ku klux klan

the march afternoon was cold as scarlet

drove alone along the decatur road

frank’s gun was on the seat beside her

as she went past old army tents and

rough wooden buildings where the black

prostitutes and the white and negro

criminals lived

suddenly a big negro stepped out from

behind a tree

scarlet quickly picked up frank’s gun

what do you want

miss scarlett

don’t shoot big sam

came the reply

big sam

he was one of the slaves who would work

to tara and who went to fight for the

confederacy in the last months of the

war

sam

said scarlett

what are you doing in this nasty place

and why haven’t you been into town to

see me

i don’t live here miss scarlet said sam

i’m just staying here for a time

i went up north but i didn’t like it and

i’m going home to tara as soon as i get

the chance

would you like to stay here and work for

me

said scarlett

i need a driver

sam looked unhappy

oh thank you for offering miss scarlett

but i’ve got to get out of atlanta

i

i killed a man

a negro

no a white man

a yankee soldier

said sam

he said something bad and

i didn’t mean to kill him

but i’m strong and

and now they’re after me

scarlett thought for a moment then said

i’ll send you to tara tonight

i have to drive out to my sawmill now

but i’ll be back before it’s dark

wait for me here

yes miss scarlett

said sam

like many free negroes he was pleased to

have somebody to tell him what to do

again

that evening

the sun had gone when scarlet reached

the bend in the road

big sam was nowhere to be seen

and she began to worry

then she heard feet coming along the

road

but it wasn’t sam

it was a big white man and a small fat

negro

scarlett put her hand on the gun at her

side

lady

can you give me any money

said the white man

he stopped scarlett’s horse and held it

i’m hungry

get out of the way

she answered

keeping her voice calm

get her the man shouted to the negro

she’s probably got her money inside her

dress

what happened next was like a terrible

dream

the negro ran to the carriage and

scarlet shot at him

but the gun was pulled from her hand so

roughly that it almost broke her wrist

then she felt a hand at her throat

and her dress was torn open from her

neck to her waist

the black hand pushed between her

breasts and scarlet screamed like a mad

woman

shut her up

shouted the white man pull her out

a third man was in the road and the

white man suddenly cried out

then the negro jumped down as big sam

came towards him run miss scarlett

shouted big sam

scarlett started the horse and felt the

carriage go over the white man who was

lying where sam had knocked him down

then she heard another shout from behind

and looked back to see big sam running

after her

she slowed enough to let sam jump onto

the carriage

then rushed on towards the town

that night

frank sent big sam to catch the train to

jonesborough

then he took scarlett and pity and the

children to melanie’s

and went off with ashley

scarlet almost burst with anger

how could he go out tonight

the women were sitting together in

melanie’s room

india melanie’s cousin was with them and

archie was standing by the fire

scarlett wanted to scream

how could they be so calm

did nobody care

but there was a nervousness about

melanie and india she noticed

at each sound of a horse outside

they lifted their heads from their

reading

and looked at each other

something’s wrong

thought scarlett

but what is it

then archie said

somebody’s coming

and it isn’t mr wilkes

he moved to the door

who’s there

captain butler came the answer

let me in

melanie ran to the door and pulled it

open

where have they gone rhett said

tell me quickly

what’s happened said melanie

how

how did you know

the yankees have suspected them from the

beginning mrs wilkes

said rhett

they knew there was going to be trouble

tonight

and they’ve prepared for it i heard two

yankee officers talking about it

your husband and the others will be

caught

where did they go

have they got a meeting place

don’t tell him

shouted archie

it’s a trick

didn’t you hear him say he was with

yankee officers

but melanie was looking at rhett

her voice shook as she spoke to him

out on the decatur road

she said

they meet at the old sullivan plantation

the one that’s half burned

thank you

said red

i’ll ride fast

when the yankees come

pretend you know nothing

he went out into the black knight

and they heard him ride away at great

speed

aunt pity gave a cry

the yankees

coming here

what’s it all about said scarlet

what does it mean

mean

said india

it means you’ve probably caused ashley’s

and mr kennedy’s deaths

where’s ashley cried scarlet what’s

happened to him

where’s your husband

said india her eyes full of anger

aren’t you interested in him

india please

said melanie her face white and shocked

scarlett

we didn’t tell you because frank thought

well

you were always against the clan and

the clan

screamed scarlet

ashley

frank

of course they are in the clan

said india

and all the other men we know

they are white men and southerners

oh

now the yankees will take my sawmills

and the shop

and put frank in prison

cried scarlet

she looked at them

what did rhett butler mean

india and melanie were too afraid to

speak mr wilkes and mr kennedy and the

other men have gone out tonight to kill

that negro and that white man

said archie

now it seems that the yankees suspect

something

and have sent soldiers to wait for them

and it’s all because of you

suddenly there was the sound of horses

outside the house

followed by somebody knocking hard at

the door

archie

open the door

melanie said quietly and calmly

a yankee captain and some soldiers stood

outside

scarlet recognized the captain

it was tom jeffrey and he was a friend

of rats

he saw scarlett and took off his hat

good evening mrs kennedy

he said

looking round the room quickly

and which of you ladies is mrs wilkes

i am

said melanie cooley

why are you here

i’d like to speak to mr wilkes and mr

kennedy he said

they aren’t here

they’re at mr kennedy’s shop

they’re not at the shop

he said

looking serious

we’ll wait outside until they return

soldiers surrounded the house

a man at each window and door

after a long time there was the sound of

horses feet

and of rhett butler

singing and there were other drunken

shouts of

what the hell

from ashley and hugh elsing

archie’s hand moved towards his gun

no

whispered melanie firmly

i’ll do this

and she opened the door with an annoyed

look on her face

bring him in captain butler

she called

i suppose you’ve got him drunk again

bring him in

the yankee captain spoke from outside

i’m sorry mrs wilkes

but i’ll have to arrest your husband and

mr elsing

arrest

said melanie

if you arrest everyone who is drunk

captain your prison will be full of

yankee soldiers

bring him in captain butler if you can

walk yourself

ashley was white-faced and wearing

rhett’s long coat

he was half carried into the room by

rhett and hugh

the yankee captain followed them

half amused but suspecting something too

oh ashley i’m ashamed of you

cried melanie

drunk

head out with a yankee loving

carpetbagger like captain butler

archie

take him to his room and put him to bed

as usual

don’t touch him

said the captain

i am arresting him for his part in a

clan killing

a white man and a negro were killed out

near the decatur road tonight and mr

wilkes

tonight

said rhett

he began to laugh not tonight tom

these two have been with me since eight

o’clock

with you rhett

the captain was confused now

where

i don’t like to say

brett looked at melody

then looked away quickly

i hate to say it in front of the ladies

i want to know

said melanie

where was my husband

at

at bell watling’s house

said rhett

he was there with hugh and frank kennedy

and dr mead and uh oh

a lot of others

we had a party

a big party

drinks girls

at belle wattlings

oh

melanie put a hand to her breast

and appeared to faint

now you’ve done it tom

cried red

there won’t be a wife in atlanta who

will speak to her husband

rhett i didn’t know

the captain looked embarrassed

go and ask belle if you don’t believe me

said rent

but

i’ve got to arrest these men

i didn’t know it was against the law to

get drunk at belle’s house said rhett

tom

there are 50 witnesses to say that they

were there

there always are said the captain

oh

i’ll go

but i want to see them in the morning

for questioning

the captain went out

and hugh elsing went with him

india quickly closed the door

and they pulled all the curtains while

ashley was taken into the bedroom and

put on the bed

rhett’s coat was taken off him

melanie was on her feet again and she

began cutting off ashley’s shirt

it was covered in blood

he’s hurt

cried scarlet

you fool

said india

did you think he was really drunk

melanie put a towel against ashley’s

shoulder to stop the blood

he opened his eyes and smiled weakly at

her

rhett said

i’m sorry i had to say that mr wilkes

and the others were at bell watling’s

house mrs wilkes

but i had to think quickly

and i know bell will be glad to lie for

me

when i got out to the old sullivan

plantation

i saw that mr wilkes was hurt and i

could not ride far

so i took him dr mead mr merryweather

hugh elsing and all the others to bells

no one saw us

we went in through a private door at the

back which is always locked

he looked melanie straight in the eye

but i have a key

melanie became embarrassed but scarlett

was thinking so it’s true

he lives with that awful wattling woman

rhett looked at archie as melanie turned

back to ashley

take my horse to the old sullivan place

rhett said to him

the white clan clothes are pushed down

under the floor

burn them

and there are two

men in the back room

put them over the horse and take them to

the field behind bell’s house

put guns in their hands

shoot both guns at once

it’s got to look like an ordinary

shooting

do you understand

archie nodded then said

him

yes

red answered quietly

and archie went out of the back door

something about those two last words

made scarlet say

where’s frank

rhett took her arm and led her into the

next room

only when they were alone did he say

archie’s carrying him to the field

behind bells

he’s dead

shot through the head

chapter nine

atlanta’s most unpopular couple

scarlett sat in her bedroom drinking

brandy and feeling sorry for things that

she had done

she wondered if everyone in the town

thought that she had killed frank

people at the funeral that day had been

cool with her

but she didn’t care

somebody knocked on the door downstairs

and she heard aunt pity open it

then came the voice of rhett butler

and she knew that he was the one person

she did want to see tonight

i’m going away tomorrow and will be away

sometime

he was saying to aunt pity

it’s very important that i see her

oh but i don’t think

not today

aunt pity began

scarlett ran to the top of the stairs

i’ll be down in a moment rhett

she called and saw aunt pity’s surprised

and shocked face looking up at her

they talked together in the library

behind closed doors

scarlett did not want aunt pity to know

about her drinking but it was almost the

first thing rhett noticed

brandy he said

and you’ve been drinking a lot of it

what if i have

she said it’s a bad thing to drink alone

scarlett

said rhett

what’s the matter

it’s more than just old frank dying

oh rhett

i was wrong to marry frank

he loved sue ellen but i lied and told

him she was going to marry tony fontaine

so that’s how it happened

said red

i often wondered

but he didn’t have to marry you

are you sorry you still own tara and

that you aren’t poor and hungry

no

no

of course you aren’t

said rhett

it’s the brandy that’s making you feel

sorry for yourself

how dare you began scarlett

i’m going to england

and i may be away for months

he smiled

i still want you more than any other

woman scarlett

and now frank is gone

i thought you ought to know it

oh

she cried

you are the rudest

and on the day of frank’s funeral

will you please leave this house

listen

he said calmly

i’m asking you

to marry me

is this one of your bad jokes

she said angrily

it’s no joke

he said

i’m afraid that if i wait until i come

back

you’ll be married to some other man who

has a little money

i can’t go on waiting to catch you

between husbands scarlett

but

but rhett

i don’t love you she said

that wasn’t important when you married

before

he said

what’s really stopping you

tell me

suddenly she thought of ashley

it’s because of him that i don’t want to

marry again

she thought

i belonged to ashley

to ashley and tara

forever

she did not know that her thoughts

brought a look of softness to her face

which rhett immediately understood

he became angry

scarlett o’hara you’re a fool

and then his arms were round her and he

was kissing her softly at first and then

violently

so that before she knew it she was

kissing him back

stop

please

i’m faint

she whispered after a moment

none of the fools you’ve known have

kissed you like this have they he said

charles or frank or your stupid ashley

what did they know about you

i know you

his mouth was on hers again

then he said

say yes

say yes or

she whispered

yes

and felt a sudden calm come over her

he looked down at her

you mean it

yes

she said again

why

he said suddenly uncertain

is it my money

red

what a question

don’t try to sweet talk me

i’m not charles or frank

he said

is it my money

well

money does help you know

she said

and i am fond of you rit

but if i said i loved you

i would be lying

and you would know it

he looked at her and laughed

but it was not a pleasant laugh

all right

he said

what shall i bring you back from england

a ring

what kind do you want

oh

a diamond ring red

said scarlet

and by a great big one

the ring rhett brought back from england

was so large that it embarrassed

scarlett to wear it

but only when it was on her finger did

she tell everyone that she was going to

marry him

they became atlanta’s most unpopular

couple

except for yankees and carpetbaggers

everyone blamed scarlet for frank’s

death

and for putting the lives of other men

in danger

and they hated rhett for using bell

watling a prostitute to save their men

from the yankee prisons

they were sure he did it on purpose just

to embarrass them

only melanie was loyal to scarlet

and reminded people how scarlett had

helped her and her family when they had

no home

those of you who do not visit scarlet

she told the ladies of atlanta

need never

never visit me

rhett took scarlett to new orleans after

they were married

and he kept her too busy to think of

ashley very often

but sometimes when she lay in rhett’s

arms with the moonlight shining across

the bed

she thought how perfect life could be

if only it was ashley’s arms that held

her so closely

they stayed at the national hotel in

atlanta

while a house was built for them

there were many new people

as old atlantians called them staying

there

also waiting for their homes to be

completed

and scarlett found them pleasant and

exciting to be with

they were rich and well-dressed

and never talked about the war or hard

times

her house was the biggest and most

fashionable in atlanta

rhett gave her anything she wanted

and listened to her talk about the shop

her sawmills the convicts and the cost

of feeding them

and gave her good

sensible advice

he never talked about having children as

charles and frank had done

but then scarlett learned that she was

going to have another baby

and told the news to rhett

i won’t have it

she screamed

a woman doesn’t have to have children if

she doesn’t want them

there are things

scarlett

you haven’t done anything

he shouted

i don’t care if you have one child or

twenty

but i do care if you die

he held her close

i don’t want children any more than you

do

but i don’t want to hear any more

foolish talk

scarlett’s baby was named eugenie

victoria

but melanie called her bonnie and she

was always called this afterwards

when scarlett was able to visit the

sawmills again

she found that ashley’s was not doing

well

ashley you’re too soft-hearted she said

you ought to get more work out of the

convicts

they only have to tell you they’re sick

and they stay away from work

that’s no way to make money

a couple of knocks with a stick will

scarlett stop

cried ashley

don’t you realize they are men

some of them sick and weak and

oh my dear when i see the way he’s

hardened you

you who were always so sweet

who has hardened me

rhett butler

everything he touches he poisons

i know he saved my life and i’m grateful

but i wish it had been any man but him

and when i think of him touching you i

he’s going to kiss me

thought scarlett happily

but he stepped back

as if realizing he had said too much

i’m very sorry scarlett he said

i mustn’t say these things

i have no excuse except

except

no excuse at all

all the way home in the carriage

scarlett thought of his words

no excuse at all

except that he loved her and did not

want to think of her lying in rhett’s

arms

well

in future she would live without those

arms

the idea pleased her

and it would mean that she would not

have to have any more children

but how could she let ashley know what

she’d done for him

i wish i could talk to ashley as easily

as i can talk to rhett

she thought

but i’ll let him know somehow

of course it will be difficult telling

rhett i want separate bedrooms

but it was not as difficult as she

thought

he gave her a long cool look when she

told him

scarlett he said

if you and your bed still held any

charms for me

locked doors would not keep me away

but fortunately

the world is full of beds

and most of the beds are full of women

you mean you’ll

of course

he said

it’s surprising i haven’t taken

advantage of one of them before

i shall lock my door every night

said scarlett

why

if i wanted you

no luck could keep me out

chapter 10

a surprise party

it was ashley’s birthday and melanie was

giving him a surprise party

everyone knew except ashley

that morning scarlett melanie india and

aunt pity were getting things ready

if you’re going to the sawmill

melanie asked scarlett

can you keep ashley busy until five

o’clock

if he comes home earlier you catch us

finishing cakes or something

scarlett was always happy to be alone

with ashley

yes

she said

but she saw india look quickly at her

she always looks strangely at me if i

speak of ashley thought scarlett

keep him there for as long as you can

after five o’clock

said melanie

then india will drive down in the

carriage and pick him up

and scarlett

come early tonight

as scarlet rode home she thought

she wants me to come early but she

doesn’t want me to welcome guests with

her and india and aunt pity

and i wanted to stand next to ashley and

welcome guests with him

why wasn’t i asked

rhett knew the answer and told her

a yankee lover welcoming people when all

those important confederate lovers are

going to be there

don’t be silly my dear

it’s only because of loyal melanie that

you’re invited at all

scarlett dressed with more care than

usual for her trip to the shop and the

sawmill that afternoon

and ashley was surprised to see her at

the office

there was almost a smile on his face

when he welcomed her

scarlett

he said

why aren’t you at my house helping

melanie to get ready for the surprise

party

ashley cried scarlett you aren’t

supposed to know

oh i’ll be the most surprised man in

atlanta said ashley with laughter in his

eyes

who told you she asked

almost every man who is invited and who

has ever had a surprise party given to

him said ashley

and scarlett had to smile

he took her hands spreading them wide so

that he could look at her

dress oh scarlett you get prettier all

the time

but as he touched her

she realized for the first time ever

that it did not excite her

how strange she thought

i’ll always remember you as you were on

that day at twelve oaks he said

you were wearing a white dress covered

with little green flowers

sitting under a tree with a dozen boys

around you

he dropped her hands

and the light went out of his eyes

we’ve come a long way since then

scarlett

you’ve come straight and quick but i’ve

come slowly

and without you

and all you’ve done for me

i’d be nothing now

oh ashley

you sound so sad

cried scarlet

no i’m not sad anymore

he said

i

he stopped

but suddenly scarlett knew what he was

thinking

you’re not sad she thought

you’ve just lost hope

ashley

what do you want

she asked him

i don’t know

he said

perhaps i want the old days back again

the memory of them never seems to go

away

his voice and the way he spoke

brought those memories back to her

and it hurt to think of them

i like these days better she said

but did not look at him when she spoke

he laughed softly

put his hand under her chin

and lifted her face up to his

oh scarlet

what a poor liar you are

he made her remember things she wanted

to forget

the beauty the charm of the old days

i mustn’t let him make me look back

she thought it hurts too much

that’s what’s wrong with ashley

he’s afraid of the future

so he looks back

oh ashley my love you mustn’t look back

she remembered the scarlet o’hara who

loved pretty dresses and charming young

men

without warning tears came into her eyes

and began to fall down her cheeks

and she looked up at ashley like a small

lost child

he took her gently in his arms

pressed her head against his shoulder

and put his cheek next to hers

like a loved friend but not a lover

she heard the sound of someone outside

and suddenly he pushed himself away from

her

she looked up at him but he was not

looking at her

he was looking over her shoulder

she turned

and there stood india

her face white

and her eyes filled with anger

archie was with her

and with them stood mrs elsing

scarlett never remembered how she got

out of the office

shame and fear hurried her home to her

empty house

it was silent in the april sunshine

the negroes were at a funeral

and the children were playing in

melanie’s garden

melanie

melanie would hear of this

scarlett went cold of the thought as she

went up to her room

the news would be all over town by

suppertime and people would believe that

she and ashley were lovers

and it had been so innocent

so

sweet scarlett burst into tears when she

thought of the hurt in melanie’s eyes

when india told her

what will melanie do she thought

will she leave ashley

and what will rhett do

scarlett pulled off her clothes and lay

down on the bed

i won’t think of it now

i’ll think of it later

she heard the negroes come back later

mammy knocked on her door but scarlett

sent her away

saying that she didn’t want any supper

then

after a long time

rhett knocked on her door and she said

come in

are you ready for the party he said

it was dark and she could not see his

face

i

i have a bad head

she said

i don’t think i’ll go

there was a long pause before he replied

what a cowardly little cat you are

and his voice was hard and cruel

he knew

she lay shaking

unable to speak

he lit the candle next to her bed and

looked down at her

and she saw that he was dressed in

evening clothes

get up

he said

we’re going to the party

oh rhett i can’t

i won’t go until if you don’t show your

face tonight

you’ll never be able to show it in this

town as long as you live

he told her

and i won’t have a coward for a wife

get your clothes on

lights were on in every room of

melanie’s house and scarlett could hear

the music far up the street

rhett held her arm roughly and walked

with her to the door

i’ll face them she thought

i don’t care what they say or what they

think

only melanie

only melanie

the music stopped as they entered and

the room slowly became silent

scarlett lifted her chin

and made herself smile

then someone came hurrying through the

crowd

melanie went immediately to scarlett’s

side

and put an arm around her waist

what a lovely dress my dear

she said in her small clear voice

india couldn’t come tonight

will you welcome our guests with me

chapter 11

wonderful

and wild

rhett sent scarlett home from the party

alone

and she went to her room

oh how awful it had been

she could not forget ashley’s face

full of shame

will he hate me now

she thought

now that melanie’s love has saved us

both

melanie

who will always believe we were innocent

scarlett got herself ready for bed

then went downstairs to get herself a

drink

there was a light in the dining room

red must have come in quietly and not

gone to bell wattlings she thought

i’ll go without my brandy then i won’t

have to see him

and i’ll lock the door of my room

but the dining room door opened

and rhett was standing there with a

candle

do come and have your drink mrs butler

he said

and she saw that he was very drunk

i don’t want to drink

i heard a noise you heard nothing

he said

come here

scarlett went down to the dining room

sit down

he told her

always before

life had seemed to be a joke to him

but now scarlett saw that something

mattered to him

and it mattered very much

he poured out a glass of brandy and put

it in her hand

you’re wondering if miss melanie knows

all about you and ashley

well

someone told her but she didn’t believe

it

i don’t know what lie ashley wilkes told

her but any lie would do for she loves

him and she loves you if you weren’t so

drunk i you locked me out of your

bedroom because you didn’t want me

or my children

he shouted

and all the time you were wanting ashley

wilkes

oh

how that hurt

she drank her brandy and stood up

you don’t understand ashley or me

and you’re jealous of something you

can’t understand

she turned and walked towards the door

but he came across the room and held her

against the wall

i’m sorry for you my pretty little fool

he told her

if i was dead

and miss melanie was dead and you had

ashley

do you think you could be happy with him

hell no

you would never

know what he was thinking about

you would never understand his books

or his music

but we

my dear wife

understand each

other i loved you

and i know you

and i want you

suddenly he lifted her off her feet and

into his arms and began to climb the

stairs and this is one night you will

not

turn me out of your room

she screamed but he kissed her so

violently that everything was pushed

from her mind

and then her arms were around his neck

and her lips were shaking

under his

when scarlett woke up the next morning

he was gone

but she remembered the wild and

wonderful night

rhett did not appear for dinner

or for supper

and when the second day passed without

news of him

she was disappointed and afraid

had he been in an accident

after the second night she decided to go

to the police

but as she finished her breakfast in her

room

she heard his feet on the stairs

oh hello

he said coming in

where have you been

she asked

don’t you know

i thought the whole town knew after the

police called it bells the night before

last

bells

you’ve been with that woman

of course

he said

i hope you didn’t worry about me

you went to her from me after

after

oh that

he said carelessly

i’m sorry for the way i behaved at our

last meeting scarlett

i was very drunk

she wanted to cry

he just used me when he was drunk like

he does the women in belle’s house

she thought

get out

she told him

don’t worry

i’m going he said

i just came to say that i’m going to

charleston and new orleans and

oh a very long trip

i’m leaving today and i’m taking bonnie

with me

get prissy to pack her little things

i’ll take prissy too

you’ll never take my child out of this

house she said

my child too mrs butler

have her packed and ready in an hour or

what happened the other night will be

nothing compared to what will happen he

said

his voice cold

he was gone for three months

and during that time

scarlett learned that she was going to

have another baby

the result of that wild night with rhett

which still filled her with shame

but for the first time

she was glad

because now she had the time and the

money for a child

rhett returned without warning

one day scarlett heard bonnie cry

mother

and hurried from her room to the top of

the stairs where bonnie threw herself

into scarlet’s arms

rhett was at the bottom

he looked up at her with his dark eyes

and suddenly she was just glad that he

was home

where’s mammy

asked bonnie and scarlett let her go

she watched rhett come up the stairs and

wondered if he would kiss her

but he did not

you don’t look well mrs butler

he said in a careless voice

does this mean that you’ve missed me

it made her angry this careless way of

his

she hadn’t wanted to tell him like this

but now the words rush to her lips

it’s because i’m going to have a baby

she said

he looked surprised and moved towards

her as if he was going to put a hand on

her arm

scarlett turned away from him with hate

in her eyes

and his face hardened

and who’s the happy father

he said coolly

ashley

her voice shook with anger

you know it’s yours but i don’t want it

any more than you do

no woman would want the baby of a man

like you

i wish it was anybody’s but yours

she stepped forward to tear his face

with her fingernails

but he moved to one side quickly

scarlett missed him and fell

over and over

to the bottom of the stairs

chapter 12

a secret plan

scarlett lost the baby and almost died

every time melanie came out of scarlet’s

room

she saw rhett sitting on his bed

his door wide open

watching his wife’s room

and when at last she was able to tell

him that scarlet was better

he put his head in his hands

and began to cry

melanie had never seen a man cry before

and it frightened her

but she closed the door softly and went

to him

and when she put her hand on his

shoulder

his arms went round her and before she

knew it she was sitting on the bed and

he was sitting on the floor with his

head on her knees

he began to talk wildly telling melanie

things that made her cheeks go hot with

embarrassment

captain butler you must not tell me

these things she said

you don’t understand he cried she didn’t

want a baby

we hadn’t slept together

captain butler

you mustn’t say

i was drunk

and i wanted to hurt her

melanie looked at him

is it possible that he heard and

believed the terrible lie about ashley

and scarlett and was jealous

she thought suddenly

no

he’s too sensible

he’s drunk and his mind is running wild

you can’t understand

he said

you’re too good to understand

i was crazy with jealousy

she doesn’t love me

she never has

she loves

he stopped as his drunken eyes met hers

and he realized who he was talking to

if i told you

you wouldn’t believe me

would you

no said melanie softly

she began gently to smooth his hair

don’t cry captain butler

she’s going to get well

a month later rhett put scarlet on the

train to jonesboro with wade ella and

prissy

then he rode to melanie’s house where

she was sitting outside

scarlett has gone to tara she said

yes

he said smiling

tara will do her more good than all of

dr mead’s medicines

but i’m worried about her health

because she tries to do too much

yes she does agreed melanie

that’s why i want mr wilkes to buy her

half in the sawmills said rhett

i know she’ll sell to him

oh

said melanie

that would be nice but miss melanie

i want to lend you the money

said red

that’s kind of you

but we may never be able to pay

i don’t want you to pay it back

he said

i’ll just be glad to know that scarlett

isn’t making herself ill

the shop will be enough to keep her busy

and happy

do you understand

well

yes but

said melanie uncertainly

you want to buy your son a horse don’t

you

and you want him to go to a good

university and to europe he said

oh of course

cried melanie but everyone is so poor

mr wilks could make a lot of money out

of the sawmills one day

said red

will you do it

to help scarlet

you know i’ll do anything in the world

for her

said melanie

she’s done so much for me

but my husband

if i send the money to mr wilkes without

telling him who has sent it

will you see that he uses it to buy the

sawmills said rhett

it must be our secret

melanie was silent for a moment

then she said

yes

and scarlet’s lucky to have a husband

who is so nice to her

scarlett came back from tara looking

much healthier and full of news

she asked has anything happened here

ashley wanted to know if i thought you’d

sell him your sawmill

and the half part you have in his

said red

scarlet looked surprised

where did ashley get the money

it seems that it came from someone he

nursed with typhoid at rock island said

red

it came with an unsigned letter from

washington

of course i told him you wouldn’t sell

i told him that you enjoyed telling

other people what to do

let me look after my own business

she said angrily

and

and i will sell them to him

until that moment

scarlett had never intended to sell her

sawmills

but rhett made her angry by speaking

about her that way

and ashley of all people

so that same night

she sold the sawmills

and then wished

that she hadn’t

chapter 13

two deaths

when bonnie was four wrecked bought her

a horse and taught her to ride

the two of them were often seen riding

together

then rhett decided that the time had

come for her to learn to jump

and he built a low gate in the back

garden

bonnie jumped the low gate easily and

scarlet could not help laughing at rhett

who looked so proud

after the first week of jumping

bonnie wanted the gate to be higher

the horse’s legs aren’t long enough

rhett told her

they are they are

said bonnie

i jumped at melanie’s fence and that’s

very high

oh all right

said rhett laughing

but if you fall off

don’t blame me

he made the gate higher

and bonnie called to her mother

mother

watch me jump this one

i’m watching dear

said scarlet smiling

watch me jump

this one

there was something about those words

what was it

scarlett looked at her small daughter as

bonnie rushed towards the gate

her blue eyes full of excitement

they’re like paws eyes

thought scarlett

and then she remembered

she heard her father’s voice

ellen

watch me jump this one

no

cried scarlet

no

oh bonnie stop

but there was the terrible sound of

breaking wood

and a cry from rhett

then scarlett saw the horse running off

without its rider

bonnie died from a broken neck

three nights later

mammy went to melanie’s house

miss melanie

said mammy mr rhett won’t let us take

that poor child

and there’s the funeral tomorrow

won’t let you take her

said melanie

he put her in his room and told me to

bring lots of lights

and not to close the curtains

don’t you know that miss bonnie is

afraid of the dark he says

so i get him a dozen candles and he says

get out and he locks the door

and that’s the way it’s been for two

days

he won’t open it for miss scarlet or

anybody and he won’t say nothing about

the funeral

you’ve got to help us he’ll listen to

you

the thought of arguing with captain

butler while he was half crazy with

sadness

made melanie go cold

but she followed mamie to scarlett’s

house and went quickly up the stairs

please let me come in captain butler

she said softly

it’s mrs wilkes

i want to see bonnie

the door opened and mammy smelled brandy

on rhett’s breath

as he took melanie’s arm and pulled her

inside

then she sat outside

crying and praying

after a long long time

the door opened

and melanie’s head appeared

she looked tired

and there were tears in her eyes

go and tell miss scarlett that captain

butler is willing to have the funeral

tomorrow morning

she said

after bonnie died

rhett did not often come home

but when he did

he was usually drunk

scarlett could not be angry with him or

blame him for bonnie’s death anymore

nothing seemed to matter to her now

she was lonely and unhappy

and afraid

there was no one to talk to

even mammy had gone back to tara

he loved that child

dr mead told her

and he drinks to forget her

have another baby as quickly as you can

but rhett did not seem to want any more

children

he never came to her bedroom

even though she left the door open now

scarlett was away from atlanta for a few

days when rhett’s message came

mrs wilkes is ill

come home immediately

rhett was waiting for her at the station

with the carriage

she’s dying

and she wants to see you

he said

not melanie

oh not melanie what happened

she lost the baby she was going to have

said rhett

i didn’t know she was going to have a

baby

she didn’t tell anyone

he said

dr mead said it would kill her to have

another baby

it has killed her

said rhett

but brett she can’t be dying

i didn’t when i she isn’t as strong as

you

he said

the carriage stopped outside melanie’s

house

are you coming in

said scarlett

no

he said

she ran inside

ashley aunt pity and india were there

she asked for you

ashley told

her the door of melanie’s room opened

quietly

and dr mead came out

come with me

he said to scarlet

he whispered

miss melanie is going to die peacefully

and you aren’t going to tell her

anything about ashley

do you understand

she went into the room where melanie lay

in bed with her eyes closed

her face was a deathly yellow

scarlett stared at her

and knew then that melanie was dying

she had hoped dr mead was wrong

but now she knew

i need her

she thought

and it was true

suddenly

scarlett realized how much she needed

melanie

had always needed her

loyal melanie

who was always there

loving her

fighting for her

she held melanie’s hand

it’s me melanie

she said

melanie’s eyes opened for a second

then they closed again

after a pause she said

promise me

oh

anything

cried scarlet

my son

bo

look after him

i give him to you

i promise

said scarlett

there was a pause before melanie’s

whisper came again

ashley

she said

ashley and you

scarlett went cold

melanie had known

all the time

she dropped her head onto the bed

and began to cry

ashley

melanie said again

and her fingers reached out to touch

scarlet’s head

scarlett looked up into melanie’s eyes

and saw no blame

only the fight for breath to speak

thank god

she thought she doesn’t know

what about ashley melanie said scarlett

you’ll

look after him

whispered melanie

oh yes

said scarlet

i’ll look after him

but

don’t ever

let him know

no

said scarlett

i’ll just

suggest things to

him melanie was able to smile

and so the care of ashley wilkes was

passed from one woman to another

without him ever knowing

but now the fight went out of melanie’s

tired face

as if with scarlet’s promise

peace had come to her

oh you’re so clever

so brave

always been good to me

at these words

it was scarlett’s turn to fight

against the tears that were coming into

her eyes

she could not speak

dr mead opened the door

and scarlett put melanie’s hand against

her cheek

good night

she said

captain butler

came the whisper

very softly now

be kind

to him

he

loves you

so much

then india and aunt pity followed the

doctor into the room as scarlett went

outside

she was the only woman except mother

who ever loved me

thought scarlett

she found ashley in his room

he looked at her

and she saw fear and confusion in his

eyes

what will i do

he said

i can’t live without her

she stared at him

feeling that she understood him for the

first time in her life

you

really love her

don’t you

oh you’ve been a fool ashley

why didn’t you see that you only wanted

me like

like rhett wants that waffling

and then she saw the hurt look in his

eyes

and remembered her promise to melanie to

look after him

forgive me

she said

he came to her quickly

and his arms went round her

don’t cry my dear

she said

you must be brave

a door opened and someone called

ashley quick

hurry said scarlett

and pushed him out of the room

i never saw what he really was

she thought

only what i wanted him to be what a fool

i’ve been

now melanie is dead

and i’ve got him to look after like a

child

oh if i hadn’t promised her i wouldn’t

care if i never saw him again

chapter 14

tomorrow

home

that was where she wanted to be

home with rhett

wrecked with his strong arms to hold her

rhett who loved her

melanie had known this

and with her last breath had said

be kind to him

i love him scarlett thought

i don’t know how long i’ve loved him

but it’s true

rex loved me all the time

and i’ve been so nasty to him

but i’ll tell him i’ve been a fool and

he’ll understand

he always has

she found him in the dining room at home

is miss melanie dead

he asked

scarlet nodded

suddenly afraid that it may be too late

she was the only completely kind person

i ever knew

he said

a very great lady

then his voice changed

so that makes it nice for you

doesn’t it

oh how can you say that

cried scarlett

tears coming into her eyes

you know how i loved her

and her last words were about you

he looked at her

what did she say

oh

not now rhett

tell me

he said

his voice was cool but the hand he put

on her wrist hurt

she said

be kind to captain butler

he loves you so much

scarlett told him

he stared at her and dropped her wrist

suddenly he walked across to the window

is that all she said

she said

ashley

she asked me to look after ashley

he was silent for a moment

and then he laughed softly

how nice for you

he said

miss melanie is dead and you can leave

me and go to ashley

and all your dreams can come true

leave you

she cried

no

no

she ran to him and held his arm

oh you’re wrong

i don’t want to leave you i she stopped

unable to find the right words

you’re tired he said

you’d better go to bed

but i must tell you

she cried scarlet

he said heavily

i don’t

want to hear

but you don’t know what i am going to

say

my dear

it’s written plainly on your face

he said

something made you realize that you

don’t love the unfortunate mr wilkes

after all

and that same something made me seem

more attractive suddenly

he shook his head

but it’s useless to talk about it

cut red

she said

oh

i love you so much

i was a fool not to know it

rhett

you must believe me

oh

i believe you

he said

and did you ever know that i loved you

as much as a man can love a woman

but i couldn’t let you know it

you’re so cruel to those who love you

scarlett

i knew you didn’t love me when you

married me

but i was a fool

and thought i could make you care

i wanted to make you happy

the way i made bonnie happy

but there was always ashley

every night i sat across the table from

you

and knew that you were wishing ashley

was sitting in my place

but then bonnie came

and she was like you

brave and pretty and full of life

and i gave her the love that you didn’t

want

but when she died

she took

everything

rhett

there can be other babies

thank you

no

he said

but rit i’m going away

he said

i’ll come back often enough to stop

people saying that your husband has left

you

if that worries you

but i’m going away

let me come with you

no

he said

where

where will you go

she said

perhaps to england

or paris

but

if you go

what will i do

she cried

he looked at her

and there was pity in his eyes

my dear

he said softly

i don’t care what you do

she watched him go out of the room

and knew that he was the last thing in

her world that mattered

she had never understood either him

or ashley

the two men she had loved

and now she had lost them both

i won’t think of it now

she told herself

i’ll go crazy if i think of it now

she tried to find some way of stopping

the pain

i’ll uh

i’ll go home to tara tomorrow she

thought

yes

tara

she could see the white house

waiting to welcome her through the red

autumn leaves

she could see the red earth of the

fields

and the dark beauty of the trees on the

hills

and mammy would be there

suddenly she wanted mammy the way she

had wanted her when she was a little

girl

scarlett lifted her chin

she could get rhett back

there was no man she couldn’t get if she

really wanted him

i’ll think of it tomorrow

at tara

she told herself

because tomorrow

is another day

you