[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

"Rett Butler, I have admired you for a long time." Mrs. O'Hara said.

Ellen rarely loses composure with anger.In most cases, she can maintain restraint, and this restraint itself is the greatest contempt for the opponent.Rhett Butler, however, was certainly not within the bounds of her restraint—Ellen looked him straight in the eye and whispered softly, "Honestly, you remind me of something not so good."

Point to unknown blame.This, Rhett thought, could be used for many things.As early as 20 years old, she refused to marry and beat her younger brother to death and was kicked out of the house. Scarlett broke up sadly before she was late.He was not in a hurry to explain to himself, but replied respectfully: "Then I hope to have the opportunity to prove my reform to you in the future."

A very, very clever answer, but it only made Ellen's frown tighten. In the end, this noble and elegant woman just looked at the seemingly submissive man in front of her with colder eyes: "You think those little cleverness of yours I turn a blind eye?" She leaned back on the back of the chair and said coldly: "Mr. Butler, I'm afraid you are too conceited."

Reiter's expression remained unchanged, and he was still very sincere: "I am sincerely afraid of this, and I did not expect to get your consent easily."

"Is that so?" Ellen sneered, with uncontrollable anger welling up in her heart, she slapped the table, "Are you sure you're not forcing me to marry Scarlett to you? Are you sure you're not half-coaxing me in advance?" Half-deceived to convince her father, aunt, and other relatives to acquiesce to this fact? Don't you dare say you're not—" She could hardly utter the last word.

"Do you dare to say that you didn't take advantage of my daughter's wishes to ask me, a mother, not to embarrass you?" She looked directly at him and said almost word for word, "Mr. Rhett Butler, Although I love my daughter very much, your attitude really makes me very suspicious. I have no way to trust her to you, even if she is now deeply in—" Ellen stopped talking.

Rhett frowned and let it go quickly, knowing he had a problem.The woman in front of him was about the same age as him, but because he proposed to marry Scarlett, he naturally stood in a low profile.With this kind of posture, it is very difficult to use cleverness as usual, the only way is to show your sincerity.But Rhett wasn't sure if Ellen would be convinced by the story of reform given his bad past.Now it seems that the efforts he made on other people in advance are self-defeating on Ellen's side.Ellen thought he was complacent because of Scarlett's love, and his confidence in the marriage was unprecedentedly strong, which of course aroused the resentment of this loving mother.

"I admit that I am a little frivolous." Rhett finally chose a low profile, with a faint smile on his face, "But I can assure you that your daughter was not deliberately seduced | I am also deeply involved in this relationship.”

It would be rude to talk about feelings in front of a southern woman, but Rhett knew that this assurance would just reassure Ellen a little.Sure enough, although Mrs. O'Hara's face was still as cold as ice, her brows were slightly flattened.After all, allowing such a rebellious and prodigal son to have such a conversation in the cashier's office is already out of order.While Rhett had insight into Ellen's mind, he was also pondering the bottom line he could reach step by step.

"I want to know the reason why you asked me to marry Scarlett, and why you want me to marry her to you." Ellen said lightly.Rhett immediately understood that this was already a let-down, and he opened his mouth to the first question almost without hesitation: "Because I love her, I want to protect her well, and I can't tolerate her coming out again—Jonathan Things like Wilkerson, I have to protect her."

Ellen's pupils shrank: "Wilkerson?"

"Yes." Rhett said very sincerely, "For the sake of protecting Scarlett, this matter has become a secret kept by the men present, so it did not reach your ears. Jonathan Wilkerson Mister died in a melee between the Ku Klux Klan and the rebels, and the person who shot him," he paused, said bitterly, "it was Scarlett."

Ellen gasped, and she stood up in almost astonishment: "Why is she there—" Her hands were trembling.

"Mrs. O'Hara—" Rhett also stood up, and his voice was quick and soft, with a hint of reassurance and self-reproach, "I'm sorry, but Scarlett suddenly appeared that day, and she got a message from Mrs. Wilkes. Knowing the plan of the Ku Klux Klan, I feel very uneasy. I think Wilkes’ previous persecution made her nerves too tense... No one knows why she suddenly appeared. I was also in the middle of the melee, Wilkes Sen recognized me and was about to call out my name when Scarlett shot him very quickly."

After a while, Ellen spoke again, her voice had calmed down: "So, my daughter killed him?"

Rhett nodded cautiously.

"Although it was an act made out of desperation, and I can lick my face and say that it was mostly because of me——but during that time her nerves were really tense, and I think she... was too sad." He said softly , "That's when I made up my mind to propose marriage."

Although still in shock, Ellen keenly found the flaw in his words.

"That is to say," she said softly, with anger and fear still in her words, "before that, you weren't serious about getting along with my daughter?"

Rhett didn't shy away from the subject.

"I'm taking her seriously." He said, "It's just that at that time, I wasn't very sure about the future I wanted. To put it disrespectfully, I was already used to the previous life, and the change in a short period of time was really real. not easy."

There was a hint of sadness in Ellen's expression, as if he remembered something.But she didn't interrupt Rhett.

"I love Scarlett, but I didn't hold on to her very urgently at the time." Ritter said, "I'm used to it being natural, and getting married wasn't in my plan for the future...until Scarlett fired that shot. I understand how proud and stubborn she is, and I really feel sorry for her. I think I probably compromised for this. I love her, and I can't tolerate the suffering of the woman I love. I want to protect her and love her , so that she can live happily."

"Mr. Butler." Ellen thought for a while, then raised her head, "You are really bold enough to tell me this."

"Because I know your real concern is Miss O'Hara's well-being." Rhett replied slyly, and then immediately gave a sincere assurance, "I swear to you, I know very well that Scarlett needs Happiness includes relatives and the relationship she is in, and I am ready for all of these. You can believe that I have completely repented for her, and the prodigal son has returned."

"Then what can you use to convince me to marry Scarlett to you?" Ellen asked, her attitude obviously relaxed.

"We love each other, that's the most important point." Rhett didn't blush, "and social status, I've been looking for a match with her recently. I think these two points should be enough——I promise I will Let her live happily." He said sincerely again: "I understand that I have a past that is not reassuring, and I dare not beg you to believe me immediately, but I hope you can give me a chance to prove that Your own resolution. Scarlett and I both care about your opinion, it is very important to us. I promise you will not regret this decision."

"Can you guarantee that the thing that made my daughter sad for you like before will never happen again?"

"I'm going to stop that with everything I have." Rhett's dark eyes were rare earnest.

"I want you to swear." After a while, Ellen looked away from him and said, "About everything."

Rhett immediately put his hand on his heart.He looked very solemn, and solemnly swore: "I swear that I will always take care of Scarlett O'Hara's safety and joy, and never betray her. I will let her live the life she wants, and she will always have my love and love." Trust." Finally, he grinned, "You have to admit, I do get along with her better than gentlemen in some respects."

"No mother would be happy to hear that, because you're accusing her daughter of not being a lady." Ellen said flatly, with a smile at the end, "but I admit it."

——In any case, she will always be my beloved daughter Scarlett, and being a lady does not change her love for her.And Scarlett's choice in choosing a mate is more like the sum of her previous rebellious behaviors, which means that she is indeed walking on a different road.

For this different road, Ellen has expectations and worries.But at all times, a mother's real concern is always her daughter's happiness itself.She hoped that Scarlett could maintain the peace of soul and at the same time obtain happiness in the world.Just now Rhett mentioned Scarlett's self-blaming and painful expression when she shot and killed someone, which moved Ellen the most, because at this moment her heart and Rhett were connected, out of love for the same girl—at the same time, Ellen Lun also believed how meticulous and deep Rhett's love for Scarlett was.He reminded her of the past.

"Then," Ellen closed her eyes, "Mr. Butler, you have this opportunity. I agree that you and my daughter will continue to get along as boyfriend and girlfriend."

In the end, she let go of her compromise, not only because of her deep love for her daughter, but also because of the 16-year-old self in her heart who once cried a little.Ellen opened her eyes and said gently, "I'll wait and see."