xiangyu_598

@@@@@ Waiting at the foot of the gangplankOr if you'd like some cooler air off the water there's a boat over at the next wharf south that goes up the riverThere was a big civil war in America some ten years back You can see the ruins of big mansion houses burnt by the armies fighting over themYou'd have to hurry, though, she leaves in forty minutes Scarlett tried to eat a piece of toast, but it stuck in her throatThe gilded clock on the desk ticked the minutes awayIt sounded very loud to herAt the end of a half hour she jumped up "I'm going out, Bridie, but don't you dare stir a stepOpen the portholes, use that palmetto fan over there, but you and Cat stay in here with the door locked no matter how hot it getsOrder anything you want to eat and drink "Where are you going, Scarlett?" "Never mind about thatI'll be back before the ship sails The excursion boat was a small rear-wheel paddle boat painted in bright red, white, and blueIts name, in gold letters, was Abraham Lincoln Scarlett remembered it wellShe'd seen it passing Dunmore Landing July was not a month when many people toured the SouthShe was one of only a dozen passengersShe sat under an awning on the upper deck fanning herself and cursing mourning dress for its long-sleeved, high-necked sweltering effect in the Southern summer heatA man in a tall top hat striped red and white bellowed commentary through a megaphoneIt made her angrier by the minuteLook at all those fat-faced Yankees, she thought with hatred, they're just lapping this upCruel slave owners, indeed! Sold down the river, my foot! We loved our darkies just like family, and some of them owned us more than we owned them