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Scarlett hardly looked at Edward Cooper, and his
flattery escaped her altogetherShe was trying not to stare, but
staring nonetheless at Sally Brewton, the monkey-faced driver of the
carriageSally Brewton was a tiny woman in her fortiesShe was
shaped like a thin, active young boy, and her face did, in fact,
greatly resemble a monkey'sShe wasn't in the least upset by
Scarlett's rude stareSally was accustomed to the reaction; her
remarkable ugliness-to which she had adapted long, long ago-and her
unconventional behavior often astonished people who were strangers
to
herShe walked over to Scarlett now, her skirts trailing behind her
like a brown riverButler, you must think us as mad as
March haresThe truth is-boring though it may be-that there's a
perfectly rational explanation for our-shall we say?-dramatic
arrival
I am the only surviving carriage possessor in town and I find it
impossible to keep a coachmanThey object to ferrying my
dispossessed
friends, and I insist on itSo I've given up hiring men who are fake chanel bag going
to quit almost at onceAnd-if my husband is otherwise occupied-I do
the driving myself She put her small hand on Scarlett's arm and
looked up into her face"Now I ask you, doesn't that make perfectly
good sense?" Scarlett found her voice and said, "Yes
"Sally, you mustn't trap poor Scarlett like that," said Eleanor
Butler
"What else could she say? Tell her the Sally shrugged, then grinned
"I suppose your mother-in-law is referring to my bellsThe fact is that I am an appallingly bad driverSo
whenever I take the carriage out, I'm required by my humanitarian
husband to bedeck it in bells, as advance warning to people to get out
of my way
"Rather like a leper," offered Mrs"I shall ignore that,"
Sally said with an air of injured dignityShe smiled at Scarlett, a
smile of such genuine good will that Scarlett felt warmed by it"I do
hope," she said, "that you'll call on me whenever you need the
brougham, despite what you've seenBrewton, you're very kindThe fact is, I adore careening through the louis vuitton brown canvas handbag streets,
scattering scallywags and carpetbaggers to the four winds
But I'm monopolizing youLet me present Edward Cooper before he
expires Scarlett responded automatically to the gallantries of
Edward Cooper, smiling to create the beguiling dimple at the corner of
her mouth and shamming embarrassment at his compliments while
inviting
more of them with her eyesCooper," she said, "how you
do
run onI declare you're liable to turn my headI'm just a country
girl from Clayton County, Georgia, and I don't know what to make of a
sophisticated Charleston gentleman like you
"Miss Eleanor, please forgive me," she heard a new voice say
Scarlett turned and drew in a sharp breathThere was a girl in the
doorway, a young girl with shining brown hair that grew in a widow's
peak above her soft brown eyes"I'm so sorry to be late," the girl
continuedHer voice was soft, a little breathlessShe was wearing a
brown dress with white linen collar and cuffs and an old-fashioned
bonnet covered in brown silkShe looks for all the world like Melanie
when shop prada handbags I first knew her, Scarlett thoughtLike a soft little brown
birdCould she be a cousin? I never heard the Hamiltons had any kin
in Charleston"You're not late at all, Anne," said Eleanor Butler
"Come have some tea, you looked chilled to the bone Anne smiled
gratefully"The wind is picking up, and the clouds are coming in
fastI believe I beat the rain by only a few steps Good
afternoon, Miss Emma, Miss Sally, Margaret, MrCooperShe stopped,
her
lips parted, her eyes on ScarlettI don't think
we've met Eleanor Butler hurried to the girl's
sideShe was holding a steaming cup
"How barbaric of me," she exclaimed"I was so busy with the tea that
I forgot that of course you don't know Scarlett, my daughter-in-law
Here, Anne, drink this at onceYou're white as a ghost Scarlett,
Anne is our expert on the Confederate HomeShe graduated from the
school last year, and now she's teaching there
Anne Hampton-Scarlett Butler
"How do you do, Mrs Anne extended a cold little hand
Scarlett felt it quiver in her own warm one when she shook omega de ville watch ladies it"Please
call me Scarlett," she said
"Tea, Scarlett?"
"Thank you, Miss Eleanor She hurried to take the cup, glad to
escape
from the confusion she felt when she looked at Anne HamptonShe's
Melly to the lifeJust as frail, just as mousy, just as sweet-I can
tell that alreadyShe must be an orphan if she's at that Home
place
Melanie was an orphan, tooOh, Melly, how I miss youThe sky was
darkening outside the windowsEleanor Butler asked Scarlett to draw
the curtains when she finished her teaAs she drew the curtains on
the last window, she heard a rumbling of thunder in the distance and a
spattering of rain on the glass"Let's come to order," said Miss
Eleanor"We've got a lot of business to do
Everyone take a seatMargaret, will you keep passing the tea cakes
and sandwiches? I don't want anyone distracted by an empty
stomach
Em,ina, you'll continue to pour, won't you? I'll ring for more hot
water"Let me go get it, Miss Eleanor," said Anne"No, dear, we
need you hereScarlett, just pull that bell rope, please, my dior monogram messenger bag dear
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