He walked
toward
the door"Don't go, Rhett,...
He walked
toward
the door"Don't go, Rhett, please," Scarlett sobbedThen she put
both hands over her mouth to stop herselfShe'd never be able to
respect herself if she begged him againShe turned her head sharply,
unable to bear the sight of him leavingShe saw the triumph in
Suellen's eyes and the pity in Will's"He'll be back," she said,
holding her head high"He always comes back If I say it often
enough, she thought, maybe I'll believe itMaybe it will be trueShe took a deep breath"Where's Mammy's
petticoat, Suellen? I intend to see to it that she's buried in it
Scarlett was able to stay in control of herself until the cartier woman watches dreadful work
of bathing and dressing Mammy's corpse was doneBut when Will
brought
in the coffin, she began to shakeWithout a word she fledShe
poured a half glass of whiskey from the decanter in the dining room
and
drank it in three burning gulpsThe warmth of it ran through her
exhausted body, and the shaking stoppedI need air, she thoughtI
need to get out of this house, away from all of themShe could hear
the frightened voices of the children in the kitchenHer skin felt
raw with nervesShe picked up her skirts and ranOutside the
morning air was fresh and coolScarlett breathed deeply, tasting the
freshnessA light breeze lifted the chanel big bags hair that clung to her sweaty
neckWhen had she last done her hundred strokes with the
hairbrush?
She couldn't rememberMammy would be furiousOh- She put the
knuckles of her right hand into her mouth to contain her grief and
stumbled through the tall grasses of the pasture, down the hill to the
woods that bordered the riverThe high-topped pines smelled sharply
sweet
