She stamped her foot impotently because she could not think of anything else to do—and without a word picked up the lamp and started up the stairs.He was close behind her and she could hear him laughing softly to himself.That sound stiffened her spine.She went into Wade's nursery and found him sitting clutched in Prissy's arms,half dressed,hiccoughing quietly.Prissy was whimpering.The feather tick on Wade's bed was small and she ordered Prissy to drag it down the stairs and into the wagon.Prissy put down the child and obeyed.Wade followed her down the stairs,his hiccoughs stilled by his interest in the proceedings.
“Come,”said Scarlett,turning to Melanie's door and Rhett followed her,hat in hand.
Melanie lay quietly with the sheet up to her chin.Her face was deathly white but her eyes,sunken and black circled,were serene.She showed no surprise at the sight of Rhett in her bedroom but seemed to take it as a matter of course.She tried to smile weakly but the smile died before it reached the corners of her mouth.
“We are going home,to Tara,”Scarlett explained rapidly.“The Yankees are coming.Rhett is going to take us.It's the only way,Melly.”
Melanie tried to nod her head feebly and gestured toward the baby.Scarlett picked up the small baby and wrapped him hastily in a thick towel.Rhett stepped to the bed.
“I'll try not to hurt you,”he said quietly,tucking the sheet about her.“See if you can put your arms around my neck.”
Melanie tried but they fell back weakly.He bent,slipped an arm under her shoulders and another across her knees and lifted her gently.She did not cry out but Scarlett saw her bite her lip and go even whiter.Scarlett held the lamp high for Rhett to see and started toward the door when Melanie made a feeble gesture toward the wall.
“What is it?”Rhett asked softly.
“Please,”Melanie whispered,trying to point.“Charles.”
Rhett looked down at her as if he thought her delirious but Scarlett understood and was irritated.She knew Melanie wanted the daguerreotype of Charles which hung on the wall below his sword and pistol.
“Please,”Melanie whispered again,“the sword.”
“Oh,all right,”said Scarlett and,after she had lighted Rhett's careful way down the steps,she went back and unhooked the sword and pistol belts.It would be awkward,carrying them as well as the baby and the lamp.That was just like Melanie,not to be at all bothered over nearly dying and having the Yankees at her heels but to worry about Charles'things.
As she took down the daguerreotype,she caught a glimpse of Charles'face.His large brown eyes met hers and she stopped for a moment to look at the picture curiously.This man had been her husband,had lain beside her for a few nights,had given her a child with eyes as soft and brown as his.And she could hardly remember him.
The child in her arms waved small fists and mewed softly and she looked down at him.For the first time,she realized that this was Ashley's baby and suddenly wished with all the strength left in her that he were her baby,hers and Ashley's.
Prissy came bounding up the stairs and Scarlett handed the child to her.They went hastily down,the lamp throwing uncertain shadows on the wall.In the hall,Scarlett saw a bonnet and put it on hurriedly,tying the ribbons under her chin.It was Melanie's black mourning bonnet and it did not fit Scarlett's head but she could not recall where she had put her own bonnet.
She went out of the house and down the front steps,carrying the lamp and trying to keep the saber from banging against her legs.Melanie lay full length in the back of the wagon,and,beside her,were Wade and the towel-swathed baby.Prissy climbed in and took the baby in her arms.
The wagon was very small and the boards about the sides very low.The wheels leaned inward as if their first revolution would make them come off.She took one look at the horse and her heart sank.He was a small emaciated animal and he stood with his head dispiritedly low,almost between his forelegs.His back was raw with sores and harness galls and he breathed as no sound horse should.
“Not much of an animal,is it?”grinned Rhett.“Looks like he'll die in the shafts.But he's the best I could do.Some day I'll tell you with embellishments just where and how I stole him and how narrowly I missed getting shot.Nothing but my devotion to you would make me,at this stage of my career,turn horse thief—and thief of such a horse.Let me help you in.”
He took the lamp from her and set it on the ground.The front seat was only a narrow plank across the sides of the wagon.Rhett picked Scarlett up bodily and swung her to it.How wonderful to be a man and as strong as Rhett,she thought,tucking her wide skirts about her.With Rhett beside her,she did not fear anything,neither the fire nor the noise nor the Yankees.
He climbed onto the seat beside her and picked up the reins.
“Oh,wait!”she cried.“I forgot to lock the front door.”
He burst into a roar of laughter and flapped the reins upon the horse's back.
“What are you laughing at?”
“At you—locking the Yankees out,”he said and the horse started off,slowly,reluctantly.The lamp on the sidewalk burned on,making a tiny yellow circle of light which grew smaller and smaller as they moved away.
