[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Bell Watling?

This name had a strange magic power, which immediately made Scarlett stunned.And Melanie, who had found a way to vent, had already uttered all the words like peas in a bamboo tube, with a crying voice:

"...I don't know what I've done now, Scarlett! If Aunt Pitt knows I can't live! She'll tell everyone, so I don't know what face I have. But I, I How can I avoid her? That's too—too rude, Scarlett, I'm so sorry for her, don't you think I shouldn't?"

Scarlett now fully understands what happened to Melanie, after all, this incident left a deep impression on her!Bell Watling—the kind-hearted prostitute who was praised by Rhett, and later saved the Klansmen who stood up for Scarlett!Scarlett remembered how gratefully Melanie had relayed Belle's humble remark that whores were patriotic too.no!Even prostitutes have patriotism, but she, Scarlett, who comes from a famous family, is actually a great traitor!Besides, after splitting rooms with Rhett in the previous life, there was no clear relationship between him and Watling, even the keys to the back door of the brothel.With such a deep bond, how could Scarlett not remember Bell Watling!

And Mei Li continued to say, already sobbing:

"She, she was dressed in black. She looked decent, but her grammar was messed up. When I came out of the hospital, I didn't see Uncle Peter driving to pick me up, so I wanted to walk home by myself. She hid behind the fence of Emerson's house. I just said 'Mrs. Wilkes, please do me a favor.' I knew I should run, as fast as I could--but Scarlett, she looked so sad, man! She said she wanted to Do your best for the hospital, and say that she is also from the south, but she was kicked out by Mrs. Elsing. Scarlett, I am very touched when she says that. People who want to do their best for their careers are not always Bad guy, right?" She looked at Scarlett hopefully.

"Come on, Merry." Scarlett managed reluctantly, not noticing how bad her tone was, "You should kick me out of the house like this. And Captain Butler, he can't come in either."

Mei Li always looks like this, she seems to think that serving the Confederacy is like being baptized for the second time, and she is willing to take in even the old murderer Archie.Scarlett was not as kind as she was, nor could she be liked by everyone.Thinking of Belle Watling, Scarlett had to admit that that woman was far more sincere than she was in matters of patriotism—and she was just acting in front of Merry and the crowd.

"What's the matter, baby? Did I say the wrong thing?" Meili stood up quickly, hugged Scarlett's head, and apologized softly, "I'm sorry, Scarlett, I didn't mean that. I know you Love the South as much as we all do, so stop being angry, okay?"

Her words were so tender, but Scarlett turned her head and said in a fit of anger: "But what if I am a traitor who only cares about my own family and refuses to devote myself to the great cause of the South?" As soon as she said that, she regretted it, alas!She was always worried that Merry loved her only because of Charlie, but now that she made it clear, she was afraid.

Melanie's face turned pale and her black eyes widened. After a while, she said softly but firmly, "Scarlett, I believe in you. I believe in the one I love."

Scarlett felt a warmth in her heart.

Meili is always like this, standing behind her like a patron saint, loving her faithfully.It was so before, and it is so now.Although silent, but ready to fight for her at any time.Thinking of this, she took the initiative to hug Meili, and said softly: "I shouldn't have said that just now, Meili, you know I love you—of course I love Nanfang." In the last sentence, she quietly replaced "Southern" Lost the "confederation" or "great cause".

With her words, Mei Li burst into tears with a "wow".She sobbed and said, "Yes, we all love the South... Oh, Scarlett, I forgot! That Mrs. Watling gave me this." Melanie fell from Scarlett's arms Break free and spread your palms.In the palm of her hand was a men's handkerchief, which was dirty and smelled of perfume. It was bulging with coins wrapped in it, and the four corners were always tied with a knot.

"She said—she said, 'You're such a good Christian, and I'll send you money every week from now on'! But Uncle Peter was driving by now, and when he saw who was next to me, he rushed at me Yelling, telling me to get in the carriage and go home. He berated me all the way, and said he was going to tell Aunt Pitt. Aunt Pitt would be pissed off—Scarlett, you're going to intercede for me, aren't you? "

Scarlett replied somewhat absent-mindedly: "Of course, I will definitely talk about it." Then she urged, "Merry, let's see how much money is here first."

Melanie nodded, and Scarlett didn't care about the dirty handkerchief, so she untied it with a few strokes and shook it off.She shook slightly, and immediately saw many shiny gold coins rolling out and falling on the bed.Melanie counted carefully, surprised and joyful:

"Scarlett, there's 50 yuan! It's all gold coins!" She hesitated again, "—you said, how about using this money for the wounded? Will God understand her kindness, no Blame the money for being unclean. When I think of the lack of things in the hospital, I..."

But Scarlett was not in the mood to listen to her.She just looked at the dirty handkerchief, full of humiliation and jealousy, and a trace of inexplicable contempt.

The corner of the exquisitely crafted handkerchief was embroidered with the owner's initials—rkb.And she also had such a handkerchief in her own drawer, which was lent to her by Rhett Butler last time, to bind up the bouquet of wild flowers they picked together.She put it in her dressing box as a treasure, and planned to return it to him sometime.

Scarlett bit her lower lip.

Bell Watling!Well, this woman definitely came here on purpose to demonstrate to her.She couldn't believe that the red-haired woman couldn't find any other cloth to bind, but insisted on Rhett's handkerchief!And it happened to be handed over to Meili—this shameless woman!Well, and Rhett Butler, it's abhorrent enough in itself to be able to get a handkerchief to that kind of woman!God knows what kind of shady relationship they have. Thinking of this, Scarlett felt uncomfortable for a while, and then she was burning with rage!

It's downright disgusting!

Scarlett had unconsciously crumpled the dirty handkerchief in her palm.The next time she succeeds in getting Rhett to woo, she must force him to explain it clearly!Rhett Butler can only be hers, and other women, especially that Bear Watling, don't even think about it!

Telling Melanie loudly that she was going down to explain to Dr. Peter, she tugged at the handkerchief roughly.The action was so great that Merry was worried that the poor handkerchief would be torn to pieces.

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As the summer of 1863 approached, everyone in the South was full of hope.In spite of hunger and hardship, in spite of all kinds of speculators still making waves, the southerners finally said, "One more victory, and the war is over," and the tone was stronger than that of the previous summer. More optimistic and confident.

On Christmas Eve last year, the Confederacy had won a big victory at Fredericksburg.And in May, the victory of Chancellorsville brought joy to the South.By early July, it was rumored, then confirmed, that General Lee had advanced into Yankee Virginia and was about to attack!This will be the last stop!The lads will return home with victories, and the families will be reunited happily.Speaking of this, Dr. Meade's eyes were moist.

Everyone was in high spirits and frenzy, and Scarlett felt cold all over when she was in the midst of it.News of the victory at Chancellorsville came almost at the same time as General Forrest's rout of the Atlanta raid, adding to Atlanta's ecstasy and pride.But Scarlett, who had experienced it once, knew very well that the attack on Atlanta was just the beginning.

After that, waves of Yankees will come to Atlanta, trying to cut off the southern railway line and destroy the wartime core of Georgia!Despite repeated attempts by Confederate soldiers... the Yankees finally got their way.

The long memory is so vivid.Rhett's stern head in the overwhelming fire, the baby's cry as weak as a cat, Prissy's endless howling, Mei Li's weak breathing, and little Wade's wide-open eyes in horror.Fear seized my heart, half for myself and half for the home I didn't know if I was safe or not.She thought that everything could not be broken again, but the reality would always give her a fatal blow—when the exhausted Scarlett dragged a mother, a baby, a black slave, and a child back home, her father was as dull as a parrot, To tell her mother's death.

"Our troops are going to new places soon. I can't say more for reasons of secrecy, but all in all it's a great big plan! Scarlett, don't worry about us, victory is coming soon! We'll fight hard Beat the Yankees hard, and we can go home. And then we'll be able to ride and hunt and dance like we used to! But some damn good horses died for the cause, don't know if she'll take it We kicked out of the house..."

Holding Brent's letter in her hand, Scarlett waited outside the telegraph office with Melanie and Aunt Pete.There was a sea of ​​people in the square, and people gathered together silently, the anxiety that could not be concealed in the silence.The silent pleas written on the pale faces are more heartbreaking than crying.

——Four days ago, the communication from the north was suddenly interrupted, and sporadic and chaotic news reached the headquarters in Atlanta at noon the next day.A great battle was fought in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and General Lee used his entire force.