@@@@@Come through to the entrance door, 160
@@@@@Come
through to the entrance door, ScarlettShe escorted Scarlett onto the
top of the steps that led down to the freshly gravelled drive
"My grief," Scarlett said weaklyTwo long rows of uniformed servants
were facing herFitzpatrick stood slightly in
front of the cook, four kitchen maids, two parlor maids, four upstairs
maids, three dairymaids, the head laundress, and three laundry maids
To her left she saw a haughty-looking man who could only be a butler,
eight footmen, two nervous-footed boys, the stableman she knew and
six
grooms, and five men she guessed were gardeners by their earthstained
hands
"I believe I need to sit down," she whispered"First you smile and
welcome them to Ballyhara," Charlotte saidHer tone would permit no
remonstranceScarlett did as she was toldBack inside the
house-which had now become an establishment-Scarlett began to
giggle
"They're all better dressed than I am," she saidShe looked at
Charlotte Montague's expressionless face"You're about to bust out
laughing, Charlotte, you can't fool meFitz must have
had a high old time planning this
"We did rather," Charlotte admittedA smile was the nearest thing to
"bust out laughing" that Scarlett could get from herScarlett invited
all the people from Ballyhara and Adamstown to come up to see the
revived Big HouseThe long dining room table was spread with
refreshments, and she darted from room to room, urging everyone to
help
themselves, dragging them to see the High KingsCharlotte Montague
stood quietly to one side of the big staircase, quietly disapproving
Scarlett ignored herShe tried to ignore the discomfort and
embarrassment of her cousins and villagers, but within a half hour of
their arrival, she was close to tears"It goes against tradition,
MrsO," Rosaleen Fitzpatrick murmured to her, "it's naught to do with
youNo farmer's boot has ever crossed the threshold of a Big House
in
Ire
