Chapter 5: In England
Scarlet and Williams struggled through a crowd of women, men, and children: the women were dressed in lovely white gowns with laced on the fringes and hats with flowers mounted high. The little lads and girls dressed up in gay colors; the men in sweltering suits of wool and sometimes silk. It was all a lovely scene-more so when Scarlet arrived.
"Scarlet, over here," cried a lean and aging man. Though he was long past his prime, Mr. Morris was still handsome and had an air of regality hanging about him-something that Scarlet had as well. It was this ambience as well as Scarlet's unmistakably prominent cheek bones that led him to identify a niece he had never seen. "Scarlet, so nice to meet you. You and your family must have gone through so much during that atrocious war. We, in England, would have helped, but you know how it is. How is your mother doing? I love my sister so. What on earth is wrong child?"
Like the boats riding up and down the rough waves, Scarlet had begun to tremble. The memories of her much beloved mother were too much. "Mother.mother is.mother is."
She didn't need to finish the sentence, and Mr. Morris' face went moribund. "May the lord bless her," he whispered as he took of his hat.a single tear rolled down his haughty cheeks. Wiping his face with an elegantly laced handkerchief, he looked up and asked, "Your father."
Scarlet fainted, her fall only broken by the luggage. Before her fall, she had relived her father's funeral in her mind, her mother's, and Bonnie's.all in a matter of seconds.
"Scarlet, Scarlet, are you alright," asked Abigail, a look of concern cast upon her face. Scarlet had never seen Abigail so kind looking. "Yes, Abigail, thank you. How long have I."
"A day Scarlet. I am so sorry. I've been horrible.yes, I know that. If only I knew what you've been through. Oh, Scarlet, you are remarkable.war, all that, and." Abigail's voice trailed off into silence; Scarlet had won her respect and she didn't want to hurt Scarlet again.
"And Rhett," replied Scarlet. "Don't worry Abigail. It's alright. How is my uncle? Is he alright?"
"You should be asking yourself that question young lady," said Mr. Morris. He had been sitting in the corner of the room since breakfast, newspaper spread out on the table. "God knows what would have happened to you if it wasn't for that ridiculous hat box. I always thought that those boxes were stupid useless follies and now.life is ironic isn't it? Well, you and Mrs. Abigail should go shopping today. I am holding a ball this evening in honor of the arrival of my niece and of Mr. and Mrs. Williams. I must say Mrs. Abigail, that is a fine horse! Why, I'll bet on it myself. Why don't you and Scarlet get ready and my driver will take you down to town in an hour. You'll both buy any dress, hat, and shoe you want and charge it to my name. Have them send me a bill!"
Scarlet and Williams struggled through a crowd of women, men, and children: the women were dressed in lovely white gowns with laced on the fringes and hats with flowers mounted high. The little lads and girls dressed up in gay colors; the men in sweltering suits of wool and sometimes silk. It was all a lovely scene-more so when Scarlet arrived.
"Scarlet, over here," cried a lean and aging man. Though he was long past his prime, Mr. Morris was still handsome and had an air of regality hanging about him-something that Scarlet had as well. It was this ambience as well as Scarlet's unmistakably prominent cheek bones that led him to identify a niece he had never seen. "Scarlet, so nice to meet you. You and your family must have gone through so much during that atrocious war. We, in England, would have helped, but you know how it is. How is your mother doing? I love my sister so. What on earth is wrong child?"
Like the boats riding up and down the rough waves, Scarlet had begun to tremble. The memories of her much beloved mother were too much. "Mother.mother is.mother is."
She didn't need to finish the sentence, and Mr. Morris' face went moribund. "May the lord bless her," he whispered as he took of his hat.a single tear rolled down his haughty cheeks. Wiping his face with an elegantly laced handkerchief, he looked up and asked, "Your father."
Scarlet fainted, her fall only broken by the luggage. Before her fall, she had relived her father's funeral in her mind, her mother's, and Bonnie's.all in a matter of seconds.
"Scarlet, Scarlet, are you alright," asked Abigail, a look of concern cast upon her face. Scarlet had never seen Abigail so kind looking. "Yes, Abigail, thank you. How long have I."
"A day Scarlet. I am so sorry. I've been horrible.yes, I know that. If only I knew what you've been through. Oh, Scarlet, you are remarkable.war, all that, and." Abigail's voice trailed off into silence; Scarlet had won her respect and she didn't want to hurt Scarlet again.
"And Rhett," replied Scarlet. "Don't worry Abigail. It's alright. How is my uncle? Is he alright?"
"You should be asking yourself that question young lady," said Mr. Morris. He had been sitting in the corner of the room since breakfast, newspaper spread out on the table. "God knows what would have happened to you if it wasn't for that ridiculous hat box. I always thought that those boxes were stupid useless follies and now.life is ironic isn't it? Well, you and Mrs. Abigail should go shopping today. I am holding a ball this evening in honor of the arrival of my niece and of Mr. and Mrs. Williams. I must say Mrs. Abigail, that is a fine horse! Why, I'll bet on it myself. Why don't you and Scarlet get ready and my driver will take you down to town in an hour. You'll both buy any dress, hat, and shoe you want and charge it to my name. Have them send me a bill!"