@@@@@I can make up for all the mistakes I madeI 770
@@@@@I can make up for
all the mistakes I madeI can make Mother proud of meWhen she
was
a child, Mammy had described heaven to her as a land of clouds like
big
feather mattresses where angels rested, amusing themselves by
looking
down at the goings-on below through cracks in the skyEver since her
mother died, Scarlett had had an uncomfortable childish conviction
that
Ellen was watching her with unhappy concernI'll make it all better
now, she promised her motherEleanor's affectionate welcome had,
for
the moment, erased all the fears and memories that filled her heart
and
mind when she saw the Yankee soldiersIt had even wiped out
Scarlett's unacknowledged anxiety about her decision to follow Rhett
to
CharlestonShe felt safe and loved and invincibleShe could do
anything, everythingShe would win Rhett's love
again
She would be the lady Ellen always meant for her to beShe would be
admired and respected and adored by everyoneAnd she would
never,
ever, be lonely againWhen Pauline closed the last tiny, ivory-inlaid
drawer of the rosewood desk and Eulalie hurriedly swallowed the last
slice of cake, Eleanor Butler stood, pulling Scarlett up with her"I
have to pick up my boots from the cobbler this morning," she said, "so
I'll take Scarlett along and introduce her to King StreetNo woman
can possibly feel at home until she knows where the shops areWill
youall join us?" To Scarlett's immense relief, her aunts declinedButler all to herselfThe walk to Charleston's shops
was pure pleasure in the warm bright winter sunlightKing Street was
a revelation and a delightStores lined it for block after block; dry
goods, hardware, boots, tobacco and cigars, hats, jewelry, china,
seeds, medicines, wines, books, gloves, candies-it seemed that
everything and anything could be bought on King StreetThere were
crowds of shoppers, too, and dozens of smart buggies and open
carriages, with liveried drivers and fashionably dressed occupants
Charleston was nowhere near as dreary as she had remembered it and
feared it to beIt was much bigger and busier than AtlantaAnd no
sign of the Panic at
