Chapter 3

A week had gone by and a very sweetly worded letter arrived from Charleston to Scarlett. It was written by Rosemary, Rhett's sister, requesting her to visit the family. Scarlett read the letter twice, the second time, her eyes dwelt with pleasure on the words of kindness to her and to her children. Rosemary explained Rhett's visit in the first paragraph, then went on to say how she would like to know Scarlett. She ended with a few lovely sentences on Bonnie.

Scarlett set down the letter and thought a bit. She remembered Rosemary, although she had seen her for the first time during Bonnie's funeral. Rhett's family had stayed on for a week and while the stately Mrs. Butler had hardly paid any compliment to Peachtree house, Rosemary had walked the length of the house, looking earnestly for popular architectural styles and always found something to appreciate. Yes, she remembered Rosemary. She came up to Rhett's shoulder, her head of dark brown curls and wearing traditional pre-war bonnets and dresses. She was a very satisfied spinster. This fascinated Scarlett. She could understand India being an old maid. But Rosemary was so different. Rosemary had a sense of humor. While she wasn't pretty, she did have a slender frame and a sweet expression. Her soft serenity of countenance which occasionally broke to reveal a rather impish grin must have delighted Charleston gentlemen. She also couldn't understand why Rhett's mother wouldn't encourage Rosemary to marry.

Scarlett thought of Charleston the city and dreaded the visit. She couldn't stand their accents, their manners and snobbery towards north-country Georgians. But Rosemary had mentioned that Rhett would soon arrive at their house on the Battery and how lovely it would be to spend Christmas together and Scarlett relented. She had to win back Rhett.

Scarlett went to Charleston with Wade and Ella. She stayed there for a month until one day, the butler interrupted their reading circle to give the news that Mist. Rhett had arrived. The entire party, Mrs. Butler, Rosemary, Mr. Addison - a war veteran, Miss. Susan and Miss. Julie - the young ladies who belonged in the circle rose up to leave for the dining table where Rhett would join them. Scarlett felt thrilled to see Rhett once again. She tried to keep her mind on the group but her eyes kept wandering to the door from where Rhett would appear. She was determined to look completely in love just as Rhett walked inside. She was planning to give a dazzling smile and ready to look warm, loving...even mother-like.. anything that would make Rhett trust her and love her once again.

But no Rhett appeared. Mrs. Butler asked for dinner to be served as she was a very punctual woman. She prided herself on punctuality. And Rhett's place was empty. That was when Mr. Addison began his story. Scarlett wasn't paying much attention until the following words fell on her ears.

"I found it frightfully hilarious. There I was, drenched in the rain, my boots torn through and my tent flapping away in the wind and I unwrap a parcel and lo, behold, there in my hands I hold some well knitted socks and a note inside telling me to cheer up and fight victoriously for the glorious Cause."

The group around Scarlett chuckled lightly and Scarlett looked around mildly bemused. There was nothing funny in the story.

"Oh Addison, if you thought it so contemptuous, you should not have accepted such a present!" accused Miss. Susan.

"That is not the point. The point is, our women have sunk to a level where they form their own sewing circles.. a mixed group, my dears, and knitted these things. A mixed group- what is the world coming to? Whatever happened to the ideals that women were raised with?"

Again Scarlett looked puzzled. "What were they talking about?", she thought. "Didn't the socks fit?"

But the chuckles died down and Miss. Julie began again. "I think it would have benefitted me to learn how to knit socks. I suffered a great deal during and after the war. I dare your consternation and express my admiration for these admirable ladies, Mr. Addison"

"Admire?! Admiration of this type is recklessness. Of course you are very young and therefore any reckless bravado from you must appear very charming yet entirely innocent!"

Miss. Julie leaned back in a flutter of giggles which Scarlett found annoying.

"But these low-country ladies-" began Addison, off guard and instantly Rosemary hushed him across the table. Addison looked at her and then stole a glance in Scarlett's direction and began to concentrate on eating his soup. That was when Scarlett realized that they had been talking about the ladies in Atlanta.

"Why.. why they had been insulting the hardworking ladies of Atlanta!" cried Scarlett's mind. "These people are such snobby cats. They think they are so much better because they never rolled bandages or served in military hospitals during the war. They think it is a slight on their social rank! How much more dull and hypocritical could these people get?!"

Scarlett's drew up and her eyebrows rushed together in a dark frown when she saw Rhett across the table, laying a napkin across his knees and picking up his fork and knife. When he looked at her, he bowed, slowly, full of exaggerated importance towards Scarlett. The very sight of him incensed her, although her a fleeting moment, she was relieved that he looked his usual self.

"Forgive me for arriving so late at the table and missing all the gaiety, Mr. Addison. Good evening, Mother. I am glad to see you and my sister looking lovely as usual. And my wishes to Miss. Julie and Miss. Susan, Rosemary's library circle I gather. And now getting back to the curious subject. I am afraid, Mr. Addison that your story might have affected my wife rather adversely for she participated in this sewing activity that you have just described."

Rhett threw a contemptuous glance across the table at Scarlett.. that old baiting tone that brought out the tempest in her. "Of course, Scarlett would cover up her true sentiments with sweet smiles and politeness. She would sacrifice frankness and intelligence to reply sharply to any challenging statement, just like any well-brought up Southern lady-"

"Certainly not." cut in Scarlett, her temper rising sharply. The girls looked surprised and Addison looked very uneasy. They all waited politely and bemusedly for her to go on. But Scarlett realized she was falling into Rhett's trap. No, she wouldn't reply sharply. She wouldn't be frank. She couldn't risk having them all stare at her. Instead she smiled sourly. With an effort she stilled her heavy, excited breathing and spoke curtly. "I think Mr. Addison was only bringing a lightness into the conversation and Rhett is unnecessarily doing the opposite. We certainly wouldn't want to start a fight!"

"Aah, then there is something to fight..er.. argue about, isn't there, my love?"

Scarlett looked pleadingly across the table.

Rhett grinned devilishly.

"What do you think about this matter, Rhett?" asked Rosemary, innocently.

"I think that although the sentiments of the "low-country" ladies-" Rhett paused sufficiently to make everyone at the table uneasy and Scarlett furious and then continued, "are rather admirably child-like, the intention was to be of some practical support to the Confederate Army."

"There! My brother has laid his finger on the right spot. Practicality! I adore the Atlanta ladies for it! They were courageous and practical. Mixed circles are risky but the times were difficult and one should not be so severe in one's judgements-"

Scarlett sunk back in gloom. She realized that Rosemary was defending her but she resented her for it. Somehow these Charlestonians thought they were better than Georgians but she could see nothing but snobbery and hypocrisy at every turn. She detested Charleston.

Goodness! If they thought merely sewing with a group of women and slaves was vulgar, imagine what they would think if they knew she'd delivered a baby, picked cotton, ran a store and two mills!