[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

At the end of the day, Ellen went to Merry's bedroom and had a long talk with her alone.Scarlett paced outside the door anxiously, distressed by Merry's faint sobbing.Unable to bear this atmosphere, she simply went back to her room, spread out the stationery and began to write.

After the discovery of Merry's pregnancy, Ellen had already sent several very well-written letters to Atlanta explaining the situation to Aunt Pitt and Uncle Henry.So Scarlett didn't have to rack her brains to hint "pregnancy" elegantly, she thought while writing, Aunt Pitt was at a loss when encountering major events, and Uncle Henry had to make up his mind.The fact that the telegram got to Tara showed that Uncle Henry had the same idea as Ma.

The letter Scarlett is writing now is addressed to Uncle Henry.Scarlett asked him to bring the good news to Tara in time, and if there is no definite evidence for the bad news, it is best to ignore it.She emphasized that Mei Li's body is very weak and cannot be stimulated, but there is no news that will also make her very worried, so I hope that Uncle Henry will be careful.At the end of the letter, she pretended to casually mention that Rhett Butler seems to have some contacts in the north. Although it is inappropriate to say so, but for the sake of Meili's health, if Rhett Butler is still in Atlanta, Also ask Uncle Henry to find a chance to ask if he can help.

"Rett will definitely guess that it was my idea—if Uncle Henry really asked him." Scarlett curled her lips, "Don't let him misunderstand that I still care about Ashley, but now it's Meili The body is the tightest."

Uncle Henry and Aunt Pete had a big fight many years ago, and he claimed that he could no longer stand his sister's stupidity, so the two separated.But Scarlett knew that Uncle Henry was still taking care of Aunt Pitt's life.In the previous life, no matter before or after the war.Rhett Butler was able to go in and out of Aunt Pete's house even after his reputation was ruined, and he was not beaten by Uncle Henry. It must not be because of Meili's protection.Scarlett guessed that Rhett must have some way, so that the upright and serious Uncle Henry "just" discovered his "fiery patriotism under the cynical appearance", and then got the old gentleman's acquiescence.It's a pity that she tried to ask Rhett several times, but was laughed at by that guy instead!

Scarlett exhaled briskly, not thinking about Rhett's hideous smile.If she was right, Rhett and Uncle Henry must have had a relationship, at least once.In addition to worrying about Meili and her request, the upright old lawyer would be willing to pull himself off and ask Ritter for help, right?

Oh, how much Scarlett wanted to yell and tell everyone that Ashley was at Rock Island and would be back right after the war!Unfortunately not!She stood up irritably, walked back and forth in the room a few steps, sat down again, and pulled out a new letter paper.

For a long time, she was concentrating on the letter paper, but she didn't know how to write.After finally writing a few sentences, Scarlett felt more and more that she would be misunderstood, and started again annoyed.

"Merry needs your help very much, Butler." She finally wrote succinctly, "Also: If one day you lose your mind and go to the battlefield, remember to tell me your unit number."

She stuffed the letter into the envelope, thought for a while, and then took out two gray linen checked handkerchiefs and put them in."rkb" is embroidered on both handkerchiefs, so it is clear at a glance who the owner is.Rhett got two handkerchiefs, one lent her to wrap the flowers when picking flowers, and the other to comfort her when the casualty list came out.As for the piece from Bell Watling——Scarlett frowned and looked at the palm of her hand. The dirty handkerchief with the pungent perfume smell had already been scrubbed clean by her, as if the woman's handkerchief had been cleaned. The same as clearing traces from Rhett.Sending it now without thinking, Rhett will not understand what it means!Thinking of this, Scarlett pressed the handkerchief under the box again.

She sealed the envelope and wrote "Please pass on to Mr. Rhett Butler" on it, then found a larger envelope, put the original one inside, and wrote The address of the first store—the one Rhett Butler invested in.It's too eye-catching to write directly to Ritter, besides, she doesn't know where he is now!The people in the shop can always find a way to contact investors, right?Scarlett put the two letters together and prepared to hand them to the little black slave who delivered the letter the next day.

She stood up and slipped quietly to Merry's door.Mother had already left, and Scarlett pressed her ear to the door, and faintly heard Meili's even breathing, softly.Relieved, she was about to go down and say she was going to write to a store to ask if the bracelet she was looking for was in stock.

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When Meili came down to eat the next day, her steps were quite slow.Her small face was as white as a heart cut out of a piece of paper, framed in black hair, but her wide-eyed eyes shone with a strange light.She tried her best to eat more food, and put her hands gently on her lower abdomen.She said to Scarlett:

"Ashley will be back, I promised he would take care of himself."

Such Meili is even more distressing. Scarlett doesn't know what her mother said to her, but obviously her mother's magic has played a role.All she could do was to stay by Meili's side as much as possible, comforting her softly, and secretly praying night after night for an early reply.

In the newspaper, Ashley's name appeared in the "Missing - Believed to Be Killed" column, and then changed to the "Missing - Believed to Be Captured" column.The previous newspaper was torn to shreds by Scarlett throwing it to the cat, but this time Ellen did not stop her.But Mei Li couldn't find the newspaper, but believed that there must be bad news.She wasted away rapidly with worry, and Ashley's father and sister came from Twelve Oaks to visit, and the bedroom was gloomy.If it wasn't for Meili's inability to move, she might have to go back to grieve with Ashley's family.It was not until the second newspaper came that the whole family saw a glimmer of hope.

Meili began to obey the old Dr. Fontaine's instructions again, to raise her baby with peace of mind, and to eat hard.But every morning, as soon as the trustworthy black slave went out, she still couldn't help standing in front of Tara's door and watching.Scarlett knew her inner anxiety, and several times she rode over to ask for information, but unfortunately found nothing.

One day in April, Tara finally got a reply!

All of Tara gathered together.Meili was trembling all over, clutching Scarlett's arm tightly, not daring to read the letter.Ellen helped her open the letter, quickly picked out the most important part and read it:

"...Mr. Wilkes is on the camp list at Rock Island, Illinois! He's alive!"

Meili let out an "ah", and her body went limp and paralyzed.This was a cry of joy, and Scarlett quickly helped her to the bed to rest, and called for water to be poured.As if Tara was pardoned, Ellen immediately ordered the fastest black slave to report to Twelve Oaks.Merry rose abruptly, and tearfully demanded to see the rest of the letter, which Scarlett hurried to read to her.alive!It's good to be alive!Everyone was just happy for a while, and when they realized that Rock Island was the notorious prisoner camp, they couldn't help but look at each other.

Rock Island, that's Rock Island!The most notorious prisoner camp, a place that is frightening to mention!

Since the start of the war, many members of the Northern and Southern Armies have fallen into the hands of the enemy.But Lincoln believed that feeding the prisoners of war would put a big burden on the Confederacy, and he firmly disagreed with the exchange of prisoners.The confederation was already short of supplies, and its wounded and sick almost ran out of medicines and bandages, so how could they care about these captives.The prisoners of war were not taken care of, and died in large numbers like flies.As a result, the Yankees became furious and dealt with the Confederate prisoners intensified, and the most terrible place among them was Rock Island.

Not being able to fill their stomachs is already the norm, and the three prisoners of war share a blanket, enduring the rampant outbreak of smallpox and pneumonia.People die every day in the plague field, and three-quarters of the people locked in cannot survive. The hell on earth will not be so terrible!And Ashley was in that place!

Melanie's little face suddenly turned pale. She clutched her dress tightly with her hands and bit her lips while Scarlett read the letter to her.Scarlett couldn't bear to look at her like that, and wanted to say something to comfort her, but she had to read on when she met Merry's pleading eyes.Meili waited so distraught, she couldn't help but snatch it, and mustered up the courage to watch it by herself.

When she saw that Ashley refused to leave the prisoner-of-war camp just because he refused to swear allegiance to the Yankees and went to print the Indians, Scarlett noticed that Meili's mental outlook changed greatly, and her tear-stained face revealed pride and joy. love comes.She nodded to Ellen, and quietly moved away from the seat next to Meili.

"He did it right," cried Merry. "He did it right, Ashley, good Ashley! I'd be so proud of him!"

it is as expected.

Scarlett closed and opened her eyes tiredly, her mother stroked Meili's curly hair and told her that everyone was also proud of Ashley; Can stomp her feet hard; Sue Ellen curled her lips and crossed herself on her chest; Karin, the youngest and most pious, almost cried... Scarlett didn't understand why everyone would rather Ashley proudly rejected the Yankees and died in the The prisoner-of-war camp did not want him to escape after falsely swearing.

She stared at Mei Li's ordinary face, and suddenly realized that if Mei Li got the news of Ashley's death directly, she might be overwhelmed with pain.But if Ashley dies because he rejects the Yankees, and makes a choice that both of them would make, pride and backbone can support Meili instead.Scarlett could not understand the feeling, but she knew Merry would be all right.

She quietly exited the house.