[Gone with the Wind] Parallel Time and Space

Chapter14

Come spring, the battle begins again.In May, the Confederate army won another great victory at Chancellorsville, and the whole South rejoiced.By early July, it was first rumored, then confirmed by the Express: General Lee was advancing on Pennsylvania.But someone brought back news from the front that General Lee had issued an order that private property in Pennsylvania should not be touched, that plunder would be punishable by death, that any requisition by the army must be paid for, and from a letter from Dr. The situation is not as good as expected.On July [-]rd the telegrams from the north were suddenly silent, and on July [-]th the bad news finally arrived that Vicksburg had fallen, after a long and brutal siege, and indeed the whole Mississippi valley, From St. Louis to New Orleans, the Yankees have fallen.The Confederacy has been cut in two.Rumors swirled quietly, darting up and down the silent streets like bats, that General Lee was dead, the battle was lost, and the list of casualties was pouring in.People try not to believe it, but neighbors near and far have panicked and rushed to the downtown area.

Scarlett is now waiting for news in front of the "Observer Daily" office. Aunt Pitty did not come this time. She reasoned that she was too old and couldn't bear it, and Melanie must come—she had to confirm every day Ashley's name was not on the casualty list, but she had a stomachache before leaving the house, so everyone persuaded her not to come.But she asked Scarlett to come over for her to see the news of Ashley.Scarlett agreed.Wade was sitting on Scarlett's right, and she could still see the red handprints on the child's face, where she had punched her.An hour ago, when she was about to go out, Wade clamored to come with her.

Scarlett gently applied the ice pack on Wade's left face. "Does it hurt, Wade?"

"It doesn't hurt..." Wade said timidly.Scarlett hugged Wade, but let it go after a while due to the heat. "Is it hot? Let Prissy take you back, okay?" Wade shook his head vigorously.

Surrounded by friends and neighbors, everyone is not doing well.Mrs. Meade stood with her hat askew on one side, supported by the fifteen-year-old Fair, the McClure sisters were trying to hide their black teeth with trembling upper lips; She was straight, but the gray locks that hung loose from her chignon betrayed her inner turmoil; Fanny Elsing was pale as a ghost.At this moment Rhett Butler appeared differently and as usual, riding a fine horse, wearing shiny boots and a crisp white linen suit, smoking an expensive cigar, stylish and healthy.

Wade saw him first, and yelled "Uncle Rhett", Rhett waved at him, causing everyone to stare at Scarlett, Scarlett's heart skipped a beat.She avoided those sharp eyes.

"Oh, you actually came dressed like this."

"Ha, you make me think I'm sloppy dressed."

Scarlett didn't want to talk to him.Rhett dismounted and went to Aunt Pitty's carriage. "Wade, who did you slap your face?" He hugged Wade eagerly, but looked at Scarlett. "Does it hurt? Wade."

"It hurts..." Scarlett heard Wade answer Rhett in a voice as soft as a mosquito.She turned her head, and Rhett was holding Wade, and they both looked at her like father and son.She was speechless immediately.

They didn't wait long before the newspaper handed out the list from the window. "Don't move." Rhett said to Scarlett and squeezed through the crowd.When he came back with several lists, Scarlett saw that his hair was a little messed up, and his expensive clothes were wrinkled, but he didn't care at all, and smiled gently and dotingly at Scarlett as always with.Scarlett suddenly remembered that she hated Rhett's mocking, contemptuous or penetrating eyes when she looked at her the most, but she didn't know when, Scarlett hadn't seen such eyes again.Only then did she dissipate the resentment accumulated in her heart just now because of everyone's sharp eyes.So Scarlett also smiled.Rhett froze for a moment, he liked Scarlett's smile just now.In the past, on Scarlett's face, what he saw most were presumptuous smiles, lively smiles, and lively smiles, but the smile just now was calm, like a lake without wind.

Scarlett heard a low groan, looked back, and saw Fanny Elsing resting her head on her mother's chest, the casualty list floating on the carriage steps, and Mrs. Elsing's thin lips trembling. , She hugged her daughter tightly in her arms.Scarlett glanced at the list quickly, but there was no Hugh Elsing's name on it, so Fanny must have had a lover at the front, now dead.

Scarlett checked the list, but couldn't find the name "Wilkes", but she felt her heart tighten when she scanned the familiar names.Tarleton--Brent, Lieutenant.Tarleton--Stuart, Corporal.Tarleton--Thomas, Pvt.And Boyd, dead in the first year of the war and buried somewhere in Virginia.Fontaine--Joseph, Pvt.Munro--Lafayette, Captain.She felt dizzy. "Rhett." Scarlett called him softly.It was too hot, she was dressed too tightly, and her voice was so soft that she wasn't sure if she made it.

But Rhett responded right away.He put his hands on Scarlett's shoulders and looked down at her. "What's the matter? Scarlett. You don't look very well. How about I take you back?"

Scarlett shook her head. "Get me some brandy."

Rhett walked up to his horse, with his wine on either side.And that's when it happened.

Fanny Elsing strode up to Scarlett, she first slapped Scarlett, and then strangled Scarlett's neck like crazy. "You bastard! Everyone...everyone is on the battlefield...you are entangled with that traitor...we have expelled Rhett Butler...you go to hell with your feminist theory!"

Scarlett's mind went blank, only hearing Fanny's words.feminist theory?Ah, it was what he said at the ball that expelled Rhett.Is it so hateful?She couldn't realize anything, and the time was too short for her to react.

Rhett held the wine bag and saw this scene when he turned around.Scarlett's face was already flushed, and Wade was beating Fanny's arm. People around quickly came to help Scarlett, but Fanny was so strong that none of the women could break her fingers. of.Rhett desperately pushed past the crowd, threw the wine bag on the ground, and snapped off Fanny's fingers with both hands.

"I am warning you!" Rhett Butler restrained his urge to hit the woman.Fanny was startled when she saw the look in Captain Butler's eyes.She saw Rhett Butler's fierce eyes lingering on her for only a second, then turned around to comfort Scarlett Hamilton.She felt some pain in her arm, so she looked down, and it was Scarlett who scratched it just now.She turned and rushed out of the crowd.She feels pain.