飘-第177章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　of　goods　sold　in　the　store。　She　thought　it　had　an　imposing　sound　and　even　went　so　far　as　to　have　the　sign　painted；　when　Ashley　Wilkes；　embarrassed；　translated　the　real　meaning。　And　Rhett　had　roared　at　her　rage。
　And　there　was　the　way　he　treated　Mammy。　Mammy　had　never　yielded　an　inch　from　her　stand　that　Rhett　was　a　mule　in　horse　harness。　She　was　polite　but　cold　to　Rhett。　She　always　called　him　“Cap’n　Butler；”　never　“Mist’　Rhett。”　She　never　even　dropped　a　curtsy　when　Rhett　presented　her　with　the　red　petticoat　and　she　never　wore　it　either。　She　kept　Ella　and　Wade　out　of　Rhett’s　way　whenever　she　could；　despite　the　fact　that　Wade　adored　Uncle　Rhett　and　Rhett　was　obviously　fond　of　the　boy。　But　instead　of　discharging　Mammy　or　being　short　and　stern　with　her；　Rhett　treated　her　with　the　utmost　deference；　with　far　more　courtesy　than　he　treated　any　of　the　ladies　of　Scarlett’s　recent　acquaintance。　In　fact；　with　more　courtesy　than　he　treated　Scarlett　herself。　He　always　asked　Mammy’s　permission；　to　take　Wade　riding　and　consulted　with　her　before　he　bought　Ella　dolls。　And　Mammy　was　hardly　polite　to　him。
　Scarlett　felt　that　Rhett　should　be　firm　with　Mammy；　as　became　the　head　of　the　house；　but　Rhett　only　laughed　and　said　that　Mammy　was　the　real　head　of　the　house。
　He　infuriated　Scarlett　by　saying　coolly　that　he　was　preparing　to　be　very　sorry　for　her　some　years　hence；　when　the　Republican　rule　was　gone　from　Georgia　and　the　Democrats　back　in　power。
　“When　the　Democrats　get　a　governor　and　a　legislature　of　their　own；　all　your　new　vulgar　Republican　friends　will　be　wiped　off　the　chess　board　and　sent　back　to　minding　bars　and　emptying　slops　where　they　belong。　And　you’ll　be　left　out　on　the　end　of　a　limb；　with　never　a　Democratic　friend　or　a　Republican　either。　Well；　take　no　thought　of　the　morrow。”
　Scarlett　laughed；　and　with　some　justice；　for　at　that　time；　Bullock　was　safe　in　the　governor’s　chair；　twenty…seven　negroes　were　in　the　legislature　and　thousands　of　the　Democratic　voters　of　Georgia　were　disfranchised。
　“The　Democrats　will　never　get　back。　All　they　do　is　make　Yankees　madder　and　put　off　the　day　when　they　could　get　back。　All　they　do　is　talk　big　and　run　around　at　night　Ku　Kluxing。”
　“They　will　get　back。　I　know　Southerners。　I　know　Georgians。　They　are　a　tough　and　bullheaded　lot。　If　they’ve　got　to　fight　another　war　to　get　back；　they’ll　fight　another　war。　If　they’ve　got　to　buy　black　votes　like　the　Yankees　have　done；　then　they　will　buy　black　votes。　If　they’ve　got　to　vote　ten　thousand　dead　men　like　the　Yankees　did；　every　corpse　in　every　cemetery　in　Georgia　will　be　at　the　polls。　Things　are　going　to　get　so　bad　under　the　benign　rule　of　our　good　friend　Rufus　Bullock　that　Georgia　is　going　to　vomit　him　up。”
　“Rhett；　don’t　use　such　vulgar　words！”　cried　Scarlett。　“You　talk　like　I　wouldn’t　be　glad　to　see　the　Democrats　come　back！　And　you　know　that　isn’t　so！　I’d　be　very　glad　to　see　them　back。　Do　you　think　I　like　to　see　these　soldiers　hanging　around；　reminding　me　of—do　you　think　I　like—　why；　I’m　a　Georgian；　too！　I’d　like　to　see　the　Democrats　get　back。　But　they　won’t。　Not　ever。　And　even　if　they　did；　how　would　that　affect　my　friends？　They’d　still　have　their　money；　wouldn’t　they？”
　“If　they　kept　their　money。　But　I　doubt　the　ability　of　any　of　them　to　keep　money　more　than　five　years　at　the　rate　they’re　spending。　Easy　come；　easy　go。　Their　money　won’t　do　them　any　good。　Any　more　than　my　money　has　done　you　any　good。　It　certainly　hasn’t　made　a　horse　out　of　you　yet；　has　it；　my　pretty　mule？”
　The　quarrel　which　sprang　from　this　last　remark　lasted　for　days。　After　the　fourth　day　of　Scarlett’s　sulks　and　obvious　silent　demands　for　an　apology；　Rhett　went　to　New　Orleans；　taking　Wade　with　him；　over　Mammy’s　protests；　and　he　stayed　away　until　Scarlett’s　tantrum　had　passed。　But　the　sting　of　not　humbling　him　remained　with　her。
　When　he　came　back　from　New　Orleans；　cool　and　bland；　she　swallowed　her　anger　as　best　she　could；　pushing　it　into　the　back　of　her　mind　to　be　thought　of　at　some　later　date。　She　did　not　want　to　bother　with　anything　unpleasant　now。　She　wanted　to　be　happy　for　her　mind　was　full　of　the　first　party　she　would　give　in　the　new　house。　It　would　be　an　enormous　night　reception　with　palms　and　an　orchestra　and　all　the　porches　shrouded　in　canvas；　and　a　collation　that　made　her　mouth　water　in　anticipation。　To　it　she　intended　to　invite　everyone　she　had　ever　known　in　Atlanta；　all　the　old　friends　and　all　the　new　and　charming　ones　she　had　met　since　returning　from　her　honeymoon。　The　excitement　of　the　party　banished；　for　the　most　part；　the　memory　of　Rhett’s　barbs　and　she　was　happy；　happier　than　she　had　been　in　years　as　she　planned　her　reception。
　Oh；　what　fun　it　was　to　be　rich！　To　give　parties　and　never　count　the　cost！　To　buy　the　most　expensive　furniture　and　dresses　and　food　and　never　think　about　the　bills！　How　marvelous　to　be　able　to　send　tidy　checks　to　Aunt　Pauline　and　Aunt　Eulalie　in　Charleston；　and　to　Will　at　Tara！　Oh；　the　jealous　fools　who　said　money　wasn’t　everything！　How　perverse　of　Rhett　to　say　that　it　had　done　nothing　for　her！
　
　Scarlett　issued　cards　of　invitation　to　all　her　friends　and　acquaintances；　old　and　new；　even　those　she　did　not　like。　She　did　not　except　even　Mrs。　Merriwether　who　had　been　almost　rude　when　she　called　on　her　at　the　National　Hotel　or　Mrs。　Elsing　who　had　been　cool　to　frigidness。　She　invited　Mrs。　Meade　and　Mrs。　Whiting　who　she　knew　disliked　her　and　who　she　knew　would　be　embarrassed　because　they　did　not　have　the　proper　clothes　to　wear　to　so　elegant　a　function。　For　Scarlett’s　housewarming；　or　“crush；”　as　it　was　fashionable　to　call　such　evening　parties；　half…reception；　half…ball；　was　by　far　the　most　elaborate　affair　Atlanta　had　ever　seen。
　That　night　the　house　and　canvas…covered　veranda　were　filled　with　guests　who　drank　her　champagne　punch　and　ate　her　patties　and　creamed　oysters　and　danced　to　the　music　of　the　orchestra　that　was　carefully　screened　by　a　wall　of　palms　and　rubber　plants。　But　none　of　those　whom　Rhett　had　termed　the　“Old　Guard”　were　present　except　Melanie　and　Ashley；　Aunt　Pitty　and　Uncle　Henry；　Dr。　and　Mrs。　Meade　and　Grandpa　Merriwether。
　Many　of　the　Old　Guard　had　reluctantly　decided　to　attend　the　“crush。”　Some　had　accepted　because　of　Melanie’s　attitude；　others　because　they　felt　they　owed　Rhett　a　debt　for　saving　their　lives　and　those　of　their　relatives。　But；　two　days　before　the　function；　a　rumor　went　about　Atlanta　that　Governor　Bullock　had　been　invited。　The　Old　Guard　signified　their　disapproval　by　a　sheaf　of　cards；　regretting　their　inability　to　accept　Scarlett’s　kind　invitation。　And　the　small　group　of　old　friends　who　did　attend　took　their　departure；　embarrassed　but　firm；　as　soon　as　the　governor　entered　Scarlett’s　house。
　Scarlett　was　so　bewildered　and　infuriated　at　these　slights　that　the　party　was　utterly　ruined　for　her。　Her　elegant　“crush”！　She　had　planned　it　so　lovingly　and　so　few　old　friends　and　no　old　enemies　had　been　there　to　see　how　wonderful　it　was！　After　the　last　guest　had　gone　home　at　dawn；　she　would　have　cried　and　stormed　had　she　not　been　afraid　that　Rhett　would　roar　with　laughter；　afraid　that　she　would　read　“I　told　you　so”　in　his　dancing　black　eyes；　even　if　he　did　not　speak　the　words。　So　she　swallowed　her　wrath　with　poor　grace　and　pretended　indifference。
　Only　to　Melanie；　the　next　morning；　did　she　permit　herself　the　luxury　of　exploding。
　“You　insulted　me；　Melly　Wilkes；　and　you　made　Ashley　and　the　others　insult　me！　You　know　they’d　have　never　gone　home　so　soon　if　you　hadn’t　dragged　them。　Oh；　I　saw　you！　Just　when　I　started　to　bring　Governor　Bullock　over　to　present　him　to　you；　you　ran　like　a　rabbit！”
　“I　did　not　believe—I　could　not　believe　that　he　would　really　be　present；”　answered　Melanie　unhappily。　“Even　though　everybody　said—”
　“Everybody？　So　everybody’s　been　clacking　and　blabbing　about　me；　have　they？”　cried　Scarlett　furiously。　“Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　if　you’d　known　the　governor　was　going　to　be　present；　you　wouldn’t　have　come　either？”
　“No；”　said　Melanie　in　a　low　voice；　her　eyes　on　the　floor。　“Darling；　I　just　wouldn’t　have　come。”
　“Great　balls　of　fire！　So　you’d　have　insulted　me　like　everybody　else　did！”
　“Oh；　mercy！”　cried　Melly；　in　real　distress。　“I　didn’t　mean　to　hurt　you。　You’re　my　own　sister；　darling；　my　own　Charlie’s　widow　and　I—”
　She　put　a　timid　hand　on　Scarlett’s　arm。　But　Scarlett　flung　it　off；　wishing　fervently　that　she　could　roar　as　loudly　as　Gerald　used　to　roar　when　in　a　temper。　But　Melanie　faced　her　wrath。　And　as　she　looked　into　Scarlett’s　stormy　green　eyes；　her　slight　shoulders　straightened　and　a　mantle　of　dignity；　strangely　at　variance　with　her　childish　face　and　figure；　fell　upon　her。
　“I’m　sorry　you’re　hurt；　my　dear；　but　I　cannot　meet　Governor　Bullock　or　any　Republican　or　any　Scalawag。　I　will　not　meet　them；　in　your　house　or　any　other　house。　No；　not　even　if　I　have　to—if　I　have　to—”　Melanie　cast　about　her　for　the　worst　thing　she　could　think　of—“Not　even　if　I　have　to　be　rude。”
　“Are　you　criticizing　my　friends？”
　“No；　dear。　But　they　are　your　friends　and　not　mine。”
　“Are　you　criticizing　me　for　having　the　governor　at　my　house？”
　Cornered；　Melanie　still　met　Scarlett’s　eyes　unwaveringly。
　“Darling；　what　you　do；　you　always　do　for　a　good　reason　and　I　love　you　and　trust　you　and　it　is　not　for　me　to　criticize。　And　I　will　not　permit　anyone　to　criticize　you　in　my　hearing。　But；　oh；　Scarlett！”　Suddenly　words　began　to　bubble　out；　swift　hot　words　and　there　was　inflexible　hate　in　the　low　voice。　“Can　you　forget　what　these　people　did　to　us？　Can　you　forget　darling　Charlie　dead　and　Ashley’s　health　ruined　and　Twelve　Oaks　burned？　Oh；　Scarlett；　you　can’t　forget　that　terrible　man　you　shot　with　your　mother’s　sewing　box　in　his　hands！　You　can’t　forget　Sherman’s　men　at　Tara　and　how　they　even　stole　our　underwear！　And　tried　to　burn　the　place　down　and　actually　handled　my　father’s　sword！　Oh；　Scarlett；　it　was　these　same　people　who　robbed　us　and　tortured　us　and　left　us　to　starve　that　you　invited　to　your　party！　The　same　people　who　have　set　the　darkies　up　to　lord　it　over　us；　who　are　robbing　us　and　keeping　out　men　from　voting！　I　can’t　forget。　I　won’t　forget。　I　won’t　let　my　Beau　forget　and　I’ll　teach　my　grandchildren　to　hate　these　people—and　my　grandchildren’s　grandchildren　if　God　lets　me　live　that　long！　Scarlett；　how　can　you　forget？”
　Melanie　paused　for　breath　and　Scarlett　stared　at　her；　startled　out　of　her　own　anger　by　the　quivering　note　of　violence　in　Melanie’s　voice。
　“Do　you　think　I’m　a　fool？”　she　questioned　impatiently。　“Of　course；　I　remember！　But　all　that’s　past；　Melly。　It’s　up　to　us　to　make　the　best　of　things　and　I’m　trying　to　do　it。　Governor　Bullock　and　some　of　the　nicer　Republicans　can　help　us　a　lot　if　we　handle　them　right。”
　“There　are　no　nice　Republicans；”　said　Melanie　flatly。　“And　I　don’t　want　their　help。　And　I　don’t　intend　to　make　the　best　of　things—if　they　are　Yankee　things。”
　“Good　Heaven；　Melly；　why　get　in　such　a　pet？”
　“Oh！”　cried　Melanie；　looking　conscience　stricken。　“How　I　have　run　on！　Scarlett　I　didn’t　mean　to　hurt　your　feelings　or　to　criticize。　Everybody　thinks　differently　and　everybody’s　got　a　right　to　their　own　opinion。　Now；　dear；　I　love　you　and　you　know　I　l