Chapter 4

Scarlett tried to justify her fears. After all, Rhett wasn't the easiest of men to handle. He could be cruel and cynical, flashing that cool, mocking grin. But then, she had to admit that during their final conversation, Rhett had lost his old sardonic self and had appeared tired and distant with an utter lack of interest in the world around him. Just why was she afraid to pursue him to Charleston?

"For one thing, I loathe Charleston!", declared Scarlett to herself. She remembered the snobbery of that coastal region's gentlefolk. The emphasis they placed on family and lineage. If they had looked down on her Irish descent then, they would do the same now. Perhaps even more since, her sister had married a cracker and the other had joined a Catholic convent. She knew that Charleston's families still tried to salvage the pre-war ways and hadn't succumbed to change as much as Atlanta. Young girls there would have rather remained as old maids than marry a cracker. And she suspected that her aunts might have gossiped about her store and mills to the ladies of that fair South Carolina city. Moreover, she hardly knew the events that unfolded in Charleston after the war. If everyone took upon themselves over Fort Sumpter, now they would talk endlessly about the Klu Klux who had their headquarters somewhere in that region, the various riots, massacres, confiscation and rebellions. People would tell and retell these stories with glowing patriotic fervour that Scarlett already felt she would scream.

Then there was the problem of Rhett's family. Until now, Scarlett had hardly bothered to cultivate good relations with her husband's family. She had assumed that Rhett spent most of his time drinking and gambling at Belle Wattling's sporting house and had hardly given the matter further interest or thought. But now she remembered that the Butler family was one of the best, most cultured and revered families in Charleston. No doubt they would cling emphatically to several tedious manners and customs long discarded by Scarlett as boring and confining.

Right then, she remembered that she would have to wear plain black crepe for the next three months to mourn Melly's death. Social visiting was out of the question. Scarlett took comfort his in her stride. She would stay in Tara for three months and keep up correspondence with Mrs. Butler. She would be so charming and pleasing that she was sure to receive a formal invitation to the. house on the Battery in three months time! Scarlett built upon the idea. Less would be expected from a woman just out from mourning and it was very easy to play into the hearts of women by-

"Women!" ,realized Scarlett, with a start. During her grand receptions at her Peachtree house,she had been more intent on having a gay time with her charming friends from New Orleans than developing friendships through sincere affection and genuine kindness. Now she would have to remember the teachings of Ellen, her oft repeated words on being more subtle and sedate. Yes, she could manage that but under the piercing eyes of Rhett Butler, who took perverse delight in exposing hypocrisy, she was not so sure. And if he didn't trouble himself, she would always suspect that he eyed her activities through thinly veiled contempt.

The idea of Rhett holding her in contempt crippled Scarlett's charm. She had been quick to flirt with men, say sweet, scatter-brained things that soothed their vanity and gotten them to propose to her and laughed in contempt at how silly men were and how easily them fell for her charms.

Now she wondered if Rhett thought of her the same way. She had tried everything from tears to reason. Nothing could keep him in Atlanta. Now, how could she possibly inspire any passion in him without stirring up a great deal of contempt?

These thoughts weighed heavily on Scarlett's mind as she entered her house. But if she had known the events occurring in the Butler family that very day, perhaps she needn't have worried so much. Especially if she had heard the first two questions that Mrs. Butler had asked her son the moment he crossed the threshold- what he was doing there? And where was Scarlett?

Suellen eyed her sister over the breakfast table the next day and cattily wondered why Mammy had left Scarlett for Tara. "I hounded her for an answer,Scarlett since Mammy has always been so loyal to you but Mammy evades all my questions- she simply won't reveal why she left this great house to come back to the plantation."

Mammy, who could never keep from working, had assumed her duties that day and was just then entering the hall with a tray laden with hot cakes. She evidently heard Suellen's hinting words but turned an impassive face to the family. Scarlett realised that Suellen had boiled with envy at the comforts and grandeur of her Peachtree house and now wishing to catch her at her breakpoints was targeting Mammy's mysterious refusal to work at Peachtree house. Sullen already suspected an impending divorce between Rhett and Scarlett. She looked forward to it with relish.

"You let Mammy be, Miss. Sue" snapped Scarlett, tartly. "Mammy's old now and she has every right to go to Tara if she wanted to. Of course we all miss her very much but she's been so faithful that she deserves to have an easier life at Tara. " Scarlett looked at Mammy and caught the look of gratitude in her old eyes.