Stuart and Brent had just been expelled from the University of Georgia. Their older brothers, Tom and Boyd, had come home with them, because they refused to remain at an institution where the twins were not welcome.
«I know you two don’t care, and Tom too», Scarlett said. «But what about Boyd?»
«Oh, he can study law in Judge Parmalee’s office over in Fayetteville», answered Brent carelessly.
«Why?»
«The war! The war is going to start any day, and we won’t stay in college that time».
«You know there won’t be any war», said Scarlett. «It’s all just talk. The Yankees are too scared of us to fight».
She did not endure any conversation of which she was not the chief subject. War was men’s business, not ladies’.
Then she asked,
«What did your mother say about your situation?»
The boys looked uncomfortable.
«Well», said Stuart, «Tom and us left home early this morning before she got up».
«Didn’t she say anything when you got home last night?»
«We were lucky last night. Just before we got home that new stallion Ma got in Kentucky last month was brought in. When we got home, Ma was out in the stable with a sackful of sugar. The darkies[3] were popeyed, they were so scared. And when she saw us she said: ‘Oh, what are you four doing home again?’ And then the horse began to snort and rear, and she said: ‘Get out of here! Can’t you see he’s nervous? I’ll talk to you four in the morning!’ So we went to bed, and this morning we got away and left Boyd with her».
«Will your mother ride the new horse to the Wilkes barbecue tomorrow?»
«She wants to, but Pa says he’s too dangerous. We’ll tell you a secret», said Stuart.
«What?» cried Scarlett as a child.
«You know, Ashley Wilkes’ cousin, Miss Pittypat Hamilton, told us there was going to be an engagement announced tomorrow night at the Wilkes ball».
«Oh. I know about that», said Scarlett in disappointment. «That silly nephew of hers, Charlie Hamilton, and Wilkes».
«No, it isn’t his engagement that’s going to be announced», said Stuart triumphantly. «It’s Ashley’s to Charlie’s sister, Miss Melanie!»
Scarlett’s face did not change but her lips went white.
The twins talked about the barbecue and the ball and Ashley Wilkes and Melanie Hamilton. But Scarlett was silent.
Chapter II
When the twins left Scarlett, she went back to her chair like a sleepwalker. She sat down wearily. Her hands were cold, and a feeling of disaster oppressed her. Ashley is going to marry Melanie Hamilton! Oh, it can’t be true! Ashley can’t be in love with her. Nobody can. Scarlett recalled with contempt Melanie’s thin childish figure, her serious face. No, Ashley can’t be in love with Melanie, because he was in love with her!
Mammy emerged from the hall, a huge old woman with the small, shrewd eyes of an elephant. She was black, pure African, devoted to the O’Haras.
«Why are you sitting here, Miss Scarlett??»
«I am tired. I want to sit here and watch the sunset. Please, Mammy, bring me my shawl and I’ll sit here till Pa comes home».
Mammy waddled back into the hall. Scarlett went quietly down the front steps. Soon she was at the end of the driveway and out on the main road. She sat down on a stump to wait for her father.
«Oh, Ashley! Ashley!» she thought.
He never talked about love to her. And yet she knew he loved her. Sometimes he looked at her with a yearning and a sadness which puzzled her. She knew he loved her. Why did he not tell her so?
He was courteous always, but aloof, remote. Ashley was proficient in hunting, gambling, dancing and politics, and was the best rider of all. He was interested in books and music and writing poetry. She loved him and she wanted him and she did not understand him.
Why has he captivated Scarlett? She did not know. Ashley is going marry Melanie! It can’t be true! Oh, where is Pa? She looked impatiently down the road again, and again she was disappointed.
The sun was now below the horizon. At last she heard a sound of hooves. Gerald O’Hara was coming home. He came up the hill at a gallop on his long-legged horse. Gerald was an excellent horseman.
«I wonder why he always wants to jump fences», she thought.
Gerald did not see his daughter in the shadow of the trees. She laughed aloud. Gerald recognized her, and dismounted with difficulty, because his knee was stiff, and stumped toward her.
«Well, Miss», he said, «so, you’re spying on me and, like your sister Suellen last week, you’ll tell your mother about me?»
Scarlett teasingly clicked her tongue.
«No, Pa, I’m not a tattletale[4] like Suellen», she assured him.
Gerald was a small man, little more than five feet tall, but very heavy. His thick torso was supported by short sturdy legs. He was sixty years old and his curly hair was silver-white, but his little blue eyes were young. His was Irish. And he had the tenderest of hearts.
Scarlett was his oldest child. She was more like her father than her younger sisters, Carreen and Suellen.
«You look very presentable now», she said. «But it seems to me that after you broke your knee last year, jumping that fence…»
«Well, my own daughter is telling me what I shall jump and not jump!» he shouted. «Miss, what are you doing out here without your shawl?»
«I was waiting for you. I want to know if you bought Dilcey».
«Yes I did, and the price has ruined me. Bought her and her little wench, Prissy. I gave him three thousand for the two of them».
«Pa, three thousand! And you didn’t need to buy Prissy!»
«Prissy is a pretty little wench».
«I know her. She’s a sly, stupid creature», Scarlett rejoined calmly. «And the only reason you bought her was because Dilcey asked you to buy her».
«Well, what if I did? Well, come on, let’s go to supper».
«How are they all at Twelve Oaks?»
«As usual. Cade Calvert was there and, we all sat on the gallery. Cade has just come from Atlanta».
«Did they say anything about the barbecue tomorrow?»
«Yes, they did. Ashley’s cousin, Miss Melanie Hamilton, and her brother Charles have already come from Atlanta and…»
«Was Ashley there, too?»
«He was». Gerald turned and peered sharply into her face. «You want to talk about him, right? He was there and he asked most kindly about you. And now, daughter, what’s all this about you and Ashley?»
«There is nothing», she said shortly.
«Really? Has he asked to marry you?»
«No», she said shortly.
«Nor will he», said Gerald.
Fury flamed in her.
«Miss! I learned from John Wilkes that Ashley was going to marry Miss Melanie. It will be announced tomorrow».
So it was true!
«Is it a spectacle you’ve been making of yourself?» he bawled. «Have you been running after a man who’s not in love with you?»
«I haven’t been running after him. It… it just surprised me».
«You’re lying!» said Gerald, and then he added: «I’m sorry, daughter. But there are lots of other lads. If you had any sense you’d have married Stuart