While Scarlett was at Tara, Rhett was in Charleston thinking up ways to win her affections back. He ordered frocks, jewelry, shoes, furniture, paintings, and everything else he could possibly imagine. He had everything sent to Atlanta and it would be there by the time he got back the next weekend. He stayed with his mother, and she was glad to have him. She had only met Rhett's wife once, and she was dying to get to know this woman better. She knew Scarlett was very beautiful, and seemed nice enough. But she wanted to be able to figure out what charm the woman had that caught her son, the son that no one ever thought would marry someone decent. And Rhett obviously loved her immensely, for Eleanor had never seen someone buy such a vulgar amount of things for somebody else in her life, but if it made her son happy to make his wife happy, then she was pleased and approved. She watched her son politely disregard rude statements about his wife from old girlfriends and childhood buddies, and it pleased her to no end. If it would've been 10 years ago, he would've called half of those men out, and publicly humiliated most of the women. But instead he just calmly defended his wife, saying that she was in a very deep state of mourning since she had just lost her youngest child and best friend. The evening before he left home for Atlanta, Rhett recieved two urgent telegrams: one from Mammy, and one from Suellen. He explained to his mother and their current guests about the situation, and he just like that, he was gone, gone like the way wind is after a violent storm, only this time, the storm was just moving to a different part of the country. He left with two vows, the first was to save Scarlett, the other was to have Suellen's head!
After Scarlett had arrived in Atlanta, she and the children called on Ashley at Aunt Pitty's house. Ashley looked awful, but managed a smile when he saw that it was her who walked through that door. He thought that no matter what she did, she would always be the most beautiful woman he would ever see in his life -- lookwise, that is, for Melly was the most beautiful inside. But for some reason, she was pale and thin, and her eyes were different -- they weren't the electrifying, shimmering green they once were, instead, they were a very dull and hardened green. He knew that Scarlett wasn't the same girl she was just 3 weeks ago, this Scarlett was a woman, a woman who had finally grown up, but a woman that had recieved her worst blow ever, and Ashley felt bad about it. He would never say so, but he blamed himself for her looking this way, because he had a suspicion that Rhett had left her, and he had a feeling that it was partially his fault.
Scarlett sat in the parlor while the children went and played with Beau. She felt awkward being with the man that had caused her true love to leave her, but she had to be there for Melly. For the first time in her life, Scarlett saw that Ashley was taking things literally and not dreaming. He was very serious about his son, and was making sure he could raise him the best way he knew how. Scarlett told him that she had started an account in Melly's honor for Beau at the bank. She was going to send him to college among other things.
She went home after a few hours with the children. For once, she was glad that her children were with her, because that house would seem awfully big and quiet without them there. She spent the day riding with Wade and taking turns fixing hair with Ella. She was somewhat pleased, but she was by no means, happy. She turned to her Brandy again and again, for three days. She left her children hurt and confused, but they knew she missed their uncle Rhett as did they, so they let her be for those days. Scarlett refused to eat a bit, claiming that it was useless without Rhett. Mammy stayed angry at her, until one morning she went to go help her dress, and she was passed out on the floor, but no sign of alcohol was anywhere. She immediately sent for Dr. Meade.
Dr. Meade came and said that he could do nothing for Scarlett, because she was slowly killing herself due to a broken heart, he reccomended that Captain Butler be informed at once, so Mammy telegrammed Suellen inquiring of Mister Rhett's whereabouts, and told her of the problem. Suellen sent the address to Mammy and she sent a telegram to Mister Rhett immediately, saying, 'Sir, Miss Scarlett's done gotten very sick, you need to get home right away cuz she could die if you don't, Mammy' Suellen was panicked and somewhat disgusted with herself, so she personally wrote Rhett saying, 'Rhett, I didn't give Scarlett your last telegram, she went back to Atlanta without knowing you were to arrive next week. I didn't give it to her because I enjoyed her suffering. I didn't realize she was very very hurt, and that she might die. I am so sorry Sir. your sister-in-law, Suellen Benteen.'
After Scarlett had arrived in Atlanta, she and the children called on Ashley at Aunt Pitty's house. Ashley looked awful, but managed a smile when he saw that it was her who walked through that door. He thought that no matter what she did, she would always be the most beautiful woman he would ever see in his life -- lookwise, that is, for Melly was the most beautiful inside. But for some reason, she was pale and thin, and her eyes were different -- they weren't the electrifying, shimmering green they once were, instead, they were a very dull and hardened green. He knew that Scarlett wasn't the same girl she was just 3 weeks ago, this Scarlett was a woman, a woman who had finally grown up, but a woman that had recieved her worst blow ever, and Ashley felt bad about it. He would never say so, but he blamed himself for her looking this way, because he had a suspicion that Rhett had left her, and he had a feeling that it was partially his fault.
Scarlett sat in the parlor while the children went and played with Beau. She felt awkward being with the man that had caused her true love to leave her, but she had to be there for Melly. For the first time in her life, Scarlett saw that Ashley was taking things literally and not dreaming. He was very serious about his son, and was making sure he could raise him the best way he knew how. Scarlett told him that she had started an account in Melly's honor for Beau at the bank. She was going to send him to college among other things.
She went home after a few hours with the children. For once, she was glad that her children were with her, because that house would seem awfully big and quiet without them there. She spent the day riding with Wade and taking turns fixing hair with Ella. She was somewhat pleased, but she was by no means, happy. She turned to her Brandy again and again, for three days. She left her children hurt and confused, but they knew she missed their uncle Rhett as did they, so they let her be for those days. Scarlett refused to eat a bit, claiming that it was useless without Rhett. Mammy stayed angry at her, until one morning she went to go help her dress, and she was passed out on the floor, but no sign of alcohol was anywhere. She immediately sent for Dr. Meade.
Dr. Meade came and said that he could do nothing for Scarlett, because she was slowly killing herself due to a broken heart, he reccomended that Captain Butler be informed at once, so Mammy telegrammed Suellen inquiring of Mister Rhett's whereabouts, and told her of the problem. Suellen sent the address to Mammy and she sent a telegram to Mister Rhett immediately, saying, 'Sir, Miss Scarlett's done gotten very sick, you need to get home right away cuz she could die if you don't, Mammy' Suellen was panicked and somewhat disgusted with herself, so she personally wrote Rhett saying, 'Rhett, I didn't give Scarlett your last telegram, she went back to Atlanta without knowing you were to arrive next week. I didn't give it to her because I enjoyed her suffering. I didn't realize she was very very hurt, and that she might die. I am so sorry Sir. your sister-in-law, Suellen Benteen.'