飘-第175章

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　“Oh；　Rhett；　how　you　run　on！　If　you’ve　got　money；　people　always　like　you。”
　“Not　Southerners。　It’s　harder　for　speculators’　money　to　get　into　the　best　parlors　than　for　the　camel　to　go　through　the　needle’s　eye。　And　as　for　Scalawags—that’s　you　and　me；　my　pet—we’ll　be　lucky　if　we　aren’t　spit　upon。　But　if　you’d　like　to　try；　I’ll　back　you；　my　dear；　and　I’m　sure　I　shall　enjoy　your　campaign　intensely。　And　while　we　are　on　the　subject　of　money；　let　me　make　this　clear　to　you。　You　can　have　all　the　cash　you　want　for　the　house　and　all　you　want　for　your　fal…lals。　And　if　you　like　jewelry；　you　can　have　it　but　I’m　going　to　pick　it　out。　You　have　such　execrable　taste；　my　pet。　And　anything　you　want　for　Wade　or　Ella。　And　if　Will　Benteen　can’t　make　a　go　of　the　cotton；　I’m　willing　to　chip　in　and　help　out　on　that　white　elephant　in　Clayton　County　that　you　love　so　much。　That’s　fair　enough；　isn’t　it？”
　“Of　course。　You’re　very　generous。”
　“But　listen　closely。　Not　one　cent　for　the　store　and　not　one　cent　for　that　kindling　factory　of　yours。”
　“Oh；”　said　Scarlett；　her　face　falling。　All　during　the　honeymoon　she　had　been　thinking　how　she　could　bring　up　the　subject　of　the　thousand　dollars　she　needed　to　buy　fifty　feet　more　of　land　to　enlarge　her　lumber　yard。
　“I　thought　you　always　bragged　about　being　broad　minded　and　not　caring　what　people　said　about　my　running　a　business；　and　you’re　just　like　every　other　man—so　afraid　people　will　say　I　wear　the　pants　in　the　family。”
　“There’s　never　going　to　be　any　doubt　in　anybody’s　mind　about　who　wears　the　pants　in　the　Butler　family；”　drawled　Rhett。　“I　don’t　care　what　fools　say。　In　fact；　I’m　ill　bred　enough　to　be　proud　of　having　a　smart　wife。　I　want　you　to　keep　on　running　the　store　and　the　mills。　They　are　your　children’s。　When　Wade　grows　up　he　won’t　feel　right　about　being　supported　by　his　stepfather；　and　then　he　can　take　over　the　management。　But　not　one　cent　of　mine　goes　into　either　business。”
　“Why？”
　“Because　I　don’t　care　to　contribute　to　the　support　of　Ashley　Wilkes。”
　“Are　you　going　to　begin　that　again？”
　“No。　But　you　asked　my　reasons　and　I　have　given　them。　And　another　thing。　Don’t　think　you　can　juggle　books　on　me　and　lie　about　how　much　your　clothes　cost　and　how　much　it　takes　to　run　the　house；　so　that　you　can　use　the　money　to　buy　more　mules　or　another　mill　for　Ashley。　I　intend　to　look　over　and　carefully　check　your　expenditures　and　I　know　what　things　cost。　Oh；　don’t　get　insulted。　You’d　do　it。　I　wouldn’t　put　it　beyond　you。　In　fact；　I　wouldn’t　put　anything　beyond　you　where　either　Tara　or　Ashley　is　concerned。　I　don’t　mind　Tara。　But　I　must　draw　the　line　at　Ashley。　I’m　riding　you　with　a　slack　rein；　my　pet；　but　don’t　forget　that　I’m　riding　with　curb　and　spurs　just　the　same。”
　
　CHAPTER　XLIX
　MRS。　ELSING　cocked　her　ear　toward　the　hall。　Hearing　Melanie’s　steps　die　away　into　the　kitchen　where　rattling　dishes　and　clinking　silverware　gave　promise　of　refreshments；　she　turned　and　spoke　softly　to　the　ladies　who　sat　in　a　circle　in　the　parlor；　their　sewing　baskets　in　their　laps。
　“Personally；　I　do　not　intend　to　call　on　Scarlett　now　or　ever；”　she　said；　the　chill　elegance　of　her　face　colder　than　usual。
　The　other　members　of　the　Ladies’　Sewing　Circle　for　the　Widows　and　Orphans　of　the　Confederacy　eagerly　laid　down　their　needles　and　edged　their　rocking　chairs　closer。　All　the　ladies　had　been　bursting　to　discuss　Scarlett　and　Rhett　but　Melanie’s　presence　prevented　it。　Just　the　day　before；　the　couple　had　returned　from　New　Orleans　and　they　were　occupying　the　bridal　suite　at　the　National　Hotel。
　“Hugh　says　that　I　must　call　out　of　courtesy　for　the　way　Captain　Butler　saved　his　life；”　Mrs。　Elsing　continued。　“And　poor　Fanny　sides　with　him　and　says　she　will　call　too。　I　said　to　her　‘Fanny；’　I　said；　‘if　it　wasn’t　for　Scarlett；　Tommy　would　be　alive　this　minute。　It　is　an　insult　to　his　memory　to　call。’　And　Fanny　had　no　better　sense　than　to　say　‘Mother；　I’m　not　calling　on　Scarlett。　I’m　calling　on　Captain　Butler。　He　tried　his　best　to　save　Tommy　and　it　wasn’t　his　fault　if　he　failed。’　”
　“How　silly　young　people　are！”　said　Mrs。　Merriwether。　“Call；　indeed！”　Her　stout　bosom　swelled　indignantly　as　she　remembered　Scarlett’s　rude　reception　of　her　advice　on　marrying　Rhett。　“My　Maybelle　is　just　as　silly　as　your　Fanny。　She　says　she　and　René　will　call；　because　Captain　Butler　kept　René　from　getting　hanged。　And　I　said　if　it　hadn’t　been　for　Scarlett　exposing　herself；　René　would　never　have　been　in　any　danger。　And　Father　Merriwether　intends　to　call　and　he　talks　like　he　was　in　his　dotage　and　says　he’s　grateful　to　that　scoundrel；　even　if　I’m　not。　I　vow；　since　Father　Merriwether　was　in　that　Watling　creature’s　house　he　has　acted　in　a　disgraceful　way。　Call；　indeed！　I　certainly　shan’t　call。　Scarlett　has　outlawed　herself　by　marrying　such　a　man。　He　was　bad　enough　when　he　was　a　speculator　during　the　war　and　making　money　out　of　our　hunger　but　now　that　he　is　hand　in　glove　with　the　Carpetbaggers　and　Scalawags　and　a　friend—actually　a　friend　of　that　odious　wretch；　Governor　Bullock—　Call；　indeed！”
　Mrs。　Bonnell　sighed。　She　was　a　plump　brown　wren　of　a　woman　with　a　cheerful　face。
　“They’ll　only　call　once；　for　courtesy；　Dolly。　I　don’t　know　that　I　blame　them。　I’ve　heard　that　all　the　men　who　were　out　that　night　intend　to　call；　and　I　think　they　should。　Somehow；　it’s　hard　for　me　to　think　that　Scarlett　is　her　mother’s　child。　I　went　to　school　with　Ellen　Robillard　in　Savannah　and　there　was　never　a　lovelier　girl　than　she　was　and　she　was　very　dear　to　me。　If　only　her　father　had　not　opposed　her　match　with　her　cousin；　Philippe　Robillard！　There　was　nothing　really　wrong　with　the　boy—boys　must　sow　their　wild　oats。　But　Ellen　must　run　off　and　marry　old　man　O’Hara　and　have　a　daughter　like　Scarlett。　But　really；　I　feel　that　I　must　call　once　out　of　memory　to　Ellen。”
　“Sentimental　nonsense！”　snorted　Mrs。　Merriwether　with　vigor。　“Kitty　Bonnell；　are　you　going　to　call　on　a　woman　who　married　a　bare　year　after　her　husband’s　death？　A　woman—”
　“And　she　really　killed　Mr。　Kennedy；”　interrupted　India。　Her　voice　was　cool　but　acid。　Whenever　she　thought　of　Scarlett　it　was　hard　for　her　even　to　be　polite；　remembering；　always　remembering　Stuart　Tarleton。　“And　I　have　always　thought　there　was　more　between　her　and　that　Butler　man　before　Mr。　Kennedy　was　killed　than　most　people　suspected。”
　Before　the　ladies　could　recover　from　their　shocked　astonishment　at　her　statement　and　at　a　spinster　mentioning　such　a　matter；　Melanie　was　standing　in　the　doorway。　So　engrossed　had　they　been　in　their　gossip　that　they　had　not　heard　her　light　tread　and　now；　confronted　by　their　hostess；　they　looked　like　whispering　schoolgirls　caught　by　a　teacher。　Alarm　was　added　to　consternation　at　the　change　in　Melanie’s　face。　She　was　pink　with　righteous　anger；　her　gentle　eyes　snapping　fire；　her　nostrils　quivering。　No　one　had　ever　seen　Melanie　angry　before。　Not　a　lady　present　thought　her　capable　of　wrath。　They　all　loved　her　but　they　thought　her　the　sweetest；　most　pliable　of　young　women；　deferential　to　her　elders　and　without　any　opinions　of　her　own。
　“How　dare　you；　India？”　she　questioned　in　a　low　voice　that　shook。　“Where　will　your　jealousy　lead　you？　For　shame！”
　India’s　face　went　white　but　her　head　was　high。
　“I　retract　nothing；”　she　said　briefly。　But　her　mind　was　seething。
　“Jealous；　am　I？”　she　thought。　With　the　memory　of　Stuart　Tarleton　and　of　Honey　and　Charles；　didn’t　she　have　good　reason　to　be　jealous　of　Scarlett？　Didn’t　she　have　good　reason　to　hate　her；　especially　now　that　she　had　a　suspicion　that　Scarlett　had　somehow　entangled　Ashley　in　her　web？　She　thought：　“There’s　plenty　I　could　tell　you　about　Ashley　and　your　precious　Scarlett。”　India　was　torn　between　the　desire　to　shield　Ashley　by　her　silence　and　to　extricate　him　by　telling　all　her　suspicions　to　Melanie　and　the　whole　world。　That　would　force　Scarlett　to　release　whatever　hold　she　had　on　Ashley。　But　this　was　not　the　time。　She　had　nothing　definite；　only　suspicions。
　“I　retract　nothing；”　she　repeated。
　“Then　it　is　fortunate　that　you　are　no　longer　living　under　my　roof；”　said　Melanie　and　her　words　were　cold。
　India　leaped　to　her　feet；　red　flooding　her　sallow　face。
　“Melanie；　you—my　sister…in…law—you　aren’t　going　to　quarrel　with　me　over　that　fast　piece—”
　“Scarlett　is　my　sister…in…law；　too；”　said　Melanie；　meeting　India’s　eyes　squarely　as　though　they　were　strangers。　“And　dearer　to　me　than　any　blood　sister　could　ever　be。　If　you　are　so　forgetful　of　my　favors　at　her　hands；　I　am　not。　She　stayed　with　me　through　the　whole　siege　when　she　could　have　gone　home；　when　even　Aunt　Pitty　had　run　away　to　Macon。　She　brought　my　baby　for　me　when　the　Yankees　were　almost　in　Atlanta　and　she　burdened　herself　with　me　and　Beau　all　that　dreadful　trip　to　Tara　when　she　could　have　left　me　here　in　a　hospital　for　the　Yankees　to　get　me。　And　she　nursed　and　fed　me；　even　if　she　was　tired　and　even　if　she　went　hungry。　Because　I　was　sick　and　weak；　I　had　the　best　mattress　at　Tara。　When　I　could　walk；　I　had　the　only　whole　pair　of　shoes。　You　can　forget　those　things　she　did　for　me；　India；　but　I　cannot。　And　when　Ashley　came　home；　sick；　discouraged；　without　a　home；　without　a　cent　in　his　pockets；　she　took　him　in　like　a　sister。　And　when　we　thought　we　would　have　to　go　North　and　it　was　breaking　our　hearts　to　leave　Georgia；　Scarlett　stepped　in　and　gave　him　the　mill　to　run。　And　Captain　Butler　saved　Ashley’s　life　out　of　the　kindness　of　his　heart。　Certainly　Ashley　had　no　claim　on　him！　And　I　am　grateful；　grateful　to　Scarlett　and　to　Captain　Butler。　But　you；　India！　How　can　you　forget　the　favors　Scarlett　has　done　me　and　Ashley？　How　can　you　hold　your　brother’s　life　so　cheap　as　to　cast　slurs　on　the　man　who　saved　him？　If　you　went　down　on　your　knees　to　Captain　Butler　and　Scarlett；　it　would　not　be　enough。”
　“Now；　Melly；”　began　Mrs。　Merriwether　briskly；　for　she　had　recovered　her　composure；　“that’s　no　way　to　talk　to　India。”
　“I　heard　what　you　said　about　Scarlett　too；”　cried　Melanie；　swinging　on　the　stout　old　lady　with　the　air　of　a　duelist　who；　having　withdrawn　a　blade　from　one　prostrate　opponent；　turns　hungrily　toward　another。　“And　you　too；　Mrs。　Elsing。　What　you　think　of　her　in　your　own　petty　minds；　I　do　not　care；　for　that　is　your　business。　But　what　you　say　about　her　in　my　own　house　or　in　my　own　hearing；　ever；　is　my　business。　But　how　can　you　even　think　such　dreadful　things；　much　less　say　them？　Are　your　men　so　cheap　to　you　that　you　would　rather　see　them　dead　than　alive？　Have　you　no　gratitude　to　the　man　who　saved　them　and　saved　them　at　risk　of　his　own　life？　The　Yankees　might　easily　have　thought　him　a　member　of　the　Klan　if　the　whole　truth　had　come　out！　They　might　have　hanged　him。　But　he　risked　himself　for　your　men。　For　your　father…in…law；　Mrs。　Merriwether；　and　your　son…in…law　and　your　two　nephews；　too。　And　your　brother；　Mrs。　Bonnell；　and　your　son　and　son…in…law；　Mrs。　Elsing。　Ingrates；　that’s　what　you　are！　I　ask　an　apology　from　all　of　you。”
　Mrs。　Elsing　was　on　her　feet　cramming　her　sewing　into　her　box；　her　mouth　set。
　“If　anyone　had　ever　told　me　that　you　could　be　so　ill　bred；　Melly—　No；　I　will　not　apologize。　India　is　right　Scarlett　is　a　flighty；　fast　bit　of　baggage。　I　can’t　forget　ho