Ashley looked at her for a minute. She couldn't bear to look at him,
fearing that he was going to ask her why he wanted him to take her to
Atlanta with him. She looked down at her dress and not at Ashley, waiting
for him to respond. "Yes I will take you," said Ashley. Scarlett was
relieved, he hadn't asked. But her relief was suddenly turned to panic
when Ashley asked the dreaded question, "May I ask why you want to go?"
Scarlett looked around the room, thinking of a way to avoid answering
Ashley's question. As if by some miracle, Ella began to cry. Scarlett got
up from her chair and went to pick up Ella. Scarlett carried her in her
arms and went upstairs, leaving Ashley at the table. When she came back, he
was still sitting there. He seemed to have forgotten his question, for he
didn't ask her again. Now that she was going back to Atlanta, she would
have to think of a way that she could wait for Rhett to come back. Where
would she stay and what would she do while she was waiting for him? As if
reading her mind, Ashley asked, "I assume you'll be staying with us?"
Scarlett replied, "Would that be too much trouble?" She knew Ashley would
let her stay. "Of course not," he said. Scarlett politely left the table
and went upstairs to pack the few things she was going to take with her.
Now all she had to do was think of what she was going to say to Rhett when
she saw him.
The next morning, Pork took Ashley, Beau, Scarlett, and Wade to the train station. Scarlett didn't want to take Wade with her, but Ashley thought it would be good company for Beau. Wade was excited about the trip, talking loudly to Scarlett, who pretended to listen, but only because Ashley was there. Once on the train, it was silent. Scarlett looked out the window, while Ashley kept an eye on Wade and Beau. While looking out the window, Scarlett began to wonder what she was going to say to Rhett when she saw him. Suppose she saw him this afternoon or the next day? She had to have something to say to him if she just happened to run into him. She spent the rest of the train ride trying to formulate something in her mind to say to him besides "I'm sorry." He knew that she was sorry, but she had to say something else besides that. After much thinking, she decided that she would just tell him the truth. She had wanted Ashley to love her, because she hated Melanie so. Of course now she didn't hate Melanie, and Rhett knew that, but she didn't like Melanie to being with. Then she would say that she married Charles only because she wanted to be closer to Ashley, and she thought it would make him jealous. And that she married Frank only because she needed money to pay the high taxes on Tara that the carpetbaggers were asking for. But she had married Rhett for love. For riches and money too, but also for love. She had never quite met a man like Rhett. He always knew the right things to say in front of a lady. She was sure that he wouldn't believe all of it, but it would have to do. As the train pulled into the station, Scarlett took a deep breath and held Wade's hand as she stepped off the platform.
The next morning, Pork took Ashley, Beau, Scarlett, and Wade to the train station. Scarlett didn't want to take Wade with her, but Ashley thought it would be good company for Beau. Wade was excited about the trip, talking loudly to Scarlett, who pretended to listen, but only because Ashley was there. Once on the train, it was silent. Scarlett looked out the window, while Ashley kept an eye on Wade and Beau. While looking out the window, Scarlett began to wonder what she was going to say to Rhett when she saw him. Suppose she saw him this afternoon or the next day? She had to have something to say to him if she just happened to run into him. She spent the rest of the train ride trying to formulate something in her mind to say to him besides "I'm sorry." He knew that she was sorry, but she had to say something else besides that. After much thinking, she decided that she would just tell him the truth. She had wanted Ashley to love her, because she hated Melanie so. Of course now she didn't hate Melanie, and Rhett knew that, but she didn't like Melanie to being with. Then she would say that she married Charles only because she wanted to be closer to Ashley, and she thought it would make him jealous. And that she married Frank only because she needed money to pay the high taxes on Tara that the carpetbaggers were asking for. But she had married Rhett for love. For riches and money too, but also for love. She had never quite met a man like Rhett. He always knew the right things to say in front of a lady. She was sure that he wouldn't believe all of it, but it would have to do. As the train pulled into the station, Scarlett took a deep breath and held Wade's hand as she stepped off the platform.