Chapter 74

But the imaginations wouldn't stop and it was a long ride to the church. Scarlett saw herself running around Tara, watching the hens lay eggs, climbing trees, throwing stones to see if it could clear the fence- But she was always feeling so lonely.

She must have been just five years old. She was sitting by her Mother, learning a prayer. Sullen was playing nearby and a duck suddenly waddled in from the open kitchen. Scarlett instantly shrieked in laughter and Ellen looked at her in such reproach. Scarlett giggled. "Mother, look! It's so silly- The duck thinks our house is a pond-!"

Ellen saw the duck and shrank back in her chair. "Pork! Come here and take away this bird- Really.. Isn't anyone at the kitchen? Pork!"

"No no, Mother- look! He's sweet. He won't bite." Scarlett had already grabbed the duck by his neck and gathered it in her arms.

"Very well" said Ellen, stiffly. "Carry it back outside, dear and hurry back- You mustn't get so distracted-"

Scarlett carried the duck outside and when she came back in, her dress was soiled. She tried to wipe the stain with water from a tub and ended up making an even bigger mess.

When she came back to her place, she quietly picked up the book and Ellen began to recite. But Scarlett flung the book down and said, "I'm bored. I want to go outside to play! I don't like sitting here and reading prayers-"

"Scarlett!" cried Ellen, in surprise and shock. But she didn't speak a harsh word. Scarlett stood up and her Mother's eyes slowly ran down her soiled frock.

"Mother-"cried Scarlett, approaching near.

Ellen moved back lightly. "You've soiled your dress-"

Scarlett wiped away her tears. "I'll ask Mammy to get me another dress!" She ran out of the room.

Scarlett did not go back to the house. She had got a firm scolding from Mammy and now she was sitting by the pond, pulling the grass out with her fingers. She saw a small insect.. a beetle walking along the stones and began to follow it.

"Scarlett!" bellowed the voice of her father from across the hedges. "Scarlett O'Hara- come here!"

Sullenly Scarlett walked to her father. "What is it, Pa?"

"Did you talk back to your Mother today?"

Scarlett recoiled in fear. "No. Of course I didn't-"

Mr. O' Hara looked stern. He put one arm over Scarlett's shoulders and led her into the woods. "Now now, puss- I know you have a sharp tongue. You don't have to hide it from me-"

"But I-"

"Now now- You know your Ma, she's gentle and soft- Not like the Irish. One harsh word and she takes to her bed in tears. She only wants to make a fine lady out of you- But you grieve her heart with your starts and fits-"

"Her lessons are boring. I hate them! She never comes out to play-"

"Now, Scarlett- your Mother already told me you were a naughty, disobedient child- Now this proves it! Come with me into the house and see the state she is in!"

Mr. O'Hara angrily pulled Scarlett by the arm and dragged her to see her mother.

They entered the house together. The house was so silent, even Suellen was not there. Mammy looked unhappily from the kitchen doorway. "Where is she?" whispered Mr. O'Hara.

Mammy came up to them as softly as she could. "She is up in her room, Mist. Gerald. I'm preparing soup for her and a hot bath. She has taken to her bed in grief-"

Gerald looked upset. He pulled Scarlett upstairs. He quietly knocked at the door.

"Come in" said Ellen's voice, wearily. "Who is it?"

Gerald called out. "It's little Scarlett- come to apologize for her bad behaviour- Go on Scarlett-"

Scarlett leaned back on the wall, tears streaming down her face. "I can't- I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Go on!" hissed Gerald, beginning to lose his temper again.

Scarlett tried to sneak away.

He advanced forward and bending down on one knee he made Scarlett face him. "Is this my child, crying? Why do you bawl like this? Look at your Mother, that is a grieving heart full of true emotion- Stop asking for pity. You wee little thing. Be brave. Don't simply pretend to be dainty and fragile. You run fast, climb trees and yell with the boys, don't you? Were you fainting then? Why pretend now?"

Scarlett looked in pain at her Father's perplexed face. She swallowed her tears and grabbed her Father's face with her hands. "Allright, I'll go- I won't cry anymore-"

"Good. Now come, missy- Go in and say you're sorry and give your Ma a kiss- Things will be right as rain-"

Scarlett walked into the dark, solemn room as quietly as possible. Her Mother lay prostrate on the bed and as she turned her face to Scarlett, it was stained with tears.

"Mother!" cried Scarlett, guiltily. "Mother- I am so sorry for disobeying you-"

Ellen reached out and Scarlett ran into her arms. Gerald gazed at the two people he loved in pride and happiness.

"I want to be good like you, Mother- But I keep failing" cried Scarlett, into her Mother's skirts.

"There there , Scarlett. Your just a child. Its all right, dear. We will start our lessons tomorrow. Now, dear- rise up. Goodness, you do cry loudly. A little softer, dear. I'm only worried it might become a habit. Now come with me-"

Ellen led Scarlett to the next room where there hung a portrait of her grandmother, Solange Robillard. "Scarlett, I want you to see your grandmother- How does she look?"

"She looks nice-"

"No. She looks strict." Ellen looked down on Scarlett. "If grandmother had seen you now, she would have given you a beating. Yes, don't look so frightened. She was a very strict woman. We weren't allowed to cry at all. Real ladies learn to carry their pain bravely. Now, you are just a child. You do not know how terrible the world can be- But I will prepare you for it. If you are good, you can become a great lady like your grandmother-"

Ellen abruptly walked out of the room. Scarlett quickly followed but Ellen replied. "Scarlett, I want you to wait here and stand before this portrait for a while longer. Mammy will bring up your lunch. Its for your own good, dear-"

Ellen walked away.

Scarlett looked stunned and her eyes turned fearfully to the heavily painted, dominant French lady glaring at her rom the portrait.