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They hate us because we threw them out of Fort Sumter and then held
it
against their whole fleet
"And heaven only knows how many regiments," Pauline added? The
sisters' faces were glowing with pride"Mother of God," Scarlett
whisperedWhat had she done?
Walked right into the arms of the enemyShe knew what military
government meant: the helplessness and the rage, the constant fear
that
they'd confiscate your house or put you in jail or shoot you if you
broke one of their lawsMilitary government was all-powerfulShe
had lived under its capricious rule for five harsh yearsHow could
she have been such a fool as to stumble back into it again? "They do
have a pleasant band," said Pauline"Come along, Scarlett, we cross
hereThe Butler house is the one with the fresh paint
"Lucky Eleanor," said Eulalie, "to have such a devoted cartier watch sonRhett
positively worships his mother Scarlett stared at the houseNot a
house, a mansionShining white columns soared a hundred feet to
support the roof overhang above the deep porches along the side of
the
tall, imposing brick houseScarlett's knees felt weakShe couldn't
go in, she couldn'tShe'd never seen any place as grand, as
impressiveHow would she ever find anything to say to the woman
who
lived in such magnificence? Who could destroy all her hopes with one
word to RhettPauline had her by the arm, hurrying her across the
streetith a banjo on my knee,'" she was singing in a low
off-key murmurScarlett allowed herself to be led like a
sleepwalker
In time, she found herself standing inside a door, looking at a tall
elegant woman with shining white hair crowning a lined lovely face
"Dear Eleanor," said Eulalie"You've brought Scarlett," coco chanel balck and white bags said Mrs"My dear child," she said to Scarlett, "you look so pale
She put her hands lightly on Scarlett's shoulders and bent to kiss her
cheekScarlett closed her eyesThe faint scent of lemon verbena
surrounded her, floating gently from Eleanor Butler's silk gown and
silken hairIt was the fragrance that had always been part of Ellen
O'Hara, the scent for Scarlett of comfort, of safety, of love, of life
before the War
Scarlett felt her eyes spilling uncontrollable tears"There, there,"
Rhett's mother said"It's all right, my dearWhatever it is, it's
all right nowYou've come home at lastI've been longing for you to
come She put her arms around her daughter-in-law and held her
close
leanor Butler was a Southern ladyHer slow, soft voice and indolent,
graceful movements disguised a formidable energy and efficiency
Ladies were trained from very cheap chanel bags birth to be decorative, to be sympathetic and
fascinated listeners, to be appealingly helpless and empty-headed and
admiringThey were also trained to manage the intricate and
demanding
responsibilities of huge houses and large, often warring, staffs of
servants-while always making it seem that the house, the garden, the
kitchen, the servants ran themselves flawlessly while the lady of the
house concentrated on matching colors of silk for her delicate
embroideryWhen the deprivations of war reduced the staffs of thirty
or forty to one or two, the demands on women increased
exponentially,
but the expectations remained the sameThe battered houses must
continue to welcome guests, shelter families, sparkle with clean
windows and shining brass, and have a well-groomed, imperturbable,
?
accomplished mistress at leisure in the drawing prada patchwork bag roomSomehow the
ladies of the South did itEleanor soothed Scarlett with gentle words
and fragrant tea, flattered Pauline by asking her opinion of the desk
recently installed in the drawing room, diverted Eulalie with a plea to
taste the pound cake and judge if the extract of vanilla bean was
strong enoughShe also murmured to Manigo, her manservant, that
her
maid Celie would help him and Scarlett's maid transfer Scarlett's
things from her aunts' house to the big bedroom overlooking the
garden
where MrIn under ten minutes, everything had been
accomplished to move Scarlett without opposition, or injured feelings,
or interruption to the even rhythm of the tranquil life under Eleanor
Butler's roofScarlett felt like a girl again, safe from all harm,
sheltered by a mother's all-powerful loveShe gazed at Eleanor
through misted, admiring rolex datejust oyster ey |
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