Chapter 8
Mrs. Butler seated herself in a tall armchair by the furnace and looked at Scarlett through hard yet bright eyes that were as coal black as Rhett's. Scarlett sat glumly on the sofa opposite to her. Mrs. Butler was a tall woman, elderly and graceful, possessing the calm dignity that was characteristic of the people of Charleston. Her iron grey hair was coiffed in a simple yet impressive style,her gowns were all either of subdued colors or black. She wore a heavy gold chain and a large emerald brooch and a single gold ring, thick and simple, was the sole ornament on her fingers.
She spoke slowly in that Charleston drawl that was so pleasant to the ears.
"I am not accustomed to talking openly about my children. They all have their strength and weaknesses just like others and God has been good to each of them. But I make an exception in Rhett's case. My son's life, I fear, has been an open book for the people here in Charleston. I have tried to settle rumors as best as I could but one can only do so much against waggling tongues. And when Rhett introduced you to me, I understood you to be quite exceptional to have married him despite so many ill- favoured stories. And now after the death of my only grandchild, I find I must speak to you about my son."
"I come from a family of four sisters, I am the youngest. We were brought up in rigorous discipline. When I married Mr. Butler, I was determined to inculcate the same lessons I had been taught of discipline and penitence in my own children. When Rhett was born, I suffered a few complications which resulted in a temporary lapse in my abilities to nurture my infant child." Mrs. Butler paused here a moment and then continued. "Rhett was a different child from the start. We weren't happy with the difference. My husband wanted a son who would follow his footsteps with unfaltering, unwavering obedience. His values, his opinions, his ideals, his goals were taught and re-taught to Rhett since his early childhood. But Rhett would not obey him, or obey him only out of complete necessity.I thought during those early days that my son was unnaturally rebellious and perhaps even ill-natured. When we punished him, he wouldn't seek us for a reconciliation. Most children would feel ashamed and be quick with their apologies and excuses. But not Rhett. He would be afraid but he wouldn't seek us at all. And even if he did, there would be no remorse and no attempt to understand our sentiments."
Scarlett looked up at this. Mrs. Butler continued to speak.
"He never showed any that forms of attachment a boy might show to his parents, signs of affection or an interest to show us something he had done or seen.. but there would be episodes. Episodes of such remarkable love and tenderness.. followed by nothing at all if not the absolute inexcusable , contemptible behaviour. One of my memories was seeing him tip toe out of our room with his father's boots which were soaked when Mr. Butler got caught in an unexpected bout of rain and carefully lean them against the furnace grill so that they might be dry again. But that followed by the incident of us finding him committing fraudulence to win his school friend's compass. Rhett didn't understand many things.. the simple things that we do to relate to others. I don't believe he ever knew how. He always pointed the most uncomfortable facts, boasted his fearlessness for non-conformity and appeared entirely unaffected by the short durations of his friendships. I believe all his friends lasted only a few months before he found fault with them on some ideal. I was a firm mother then, withdrawing my love at the right times in hopes of creating in my son a guilty conscience. His father was intolerant. He hated Rhett to an unfairness which I attribute to Rhett's uncanny resemblance to his notorious grandfather. I stood with my husband when Rhett was banished from our family because I believed that he was full of insolence and solitude might do him good. It was only recently, after the war that I realized I could never be more wrong or hasty in my judgement. When my husband died, Rhett visited us and when he saw our plight, he cried. For the first time in my life, I saw his love for his family. He provided for us, even if we would never reveal him as our benefactor to Charleston society."
"And then there was little Bonnie. When he brought her here, I thought she was a little miracle. Five years! The longest period when Rhett had been so happy. That child revealed more of his hard nature to himself than anyone ever did. His confusing calls to genuine closeness and his maddening insolence intended to drive the loved one away. "
"Intended!" cried Scarlett, grasping at this word. "Yes, that was what it was. It always seemed as if he went out of his way to hurt-" She stopped and blushed at her lapse of control.
"Yes" nodded Mrs. Butler, understanding..