Chapter 60

           Somethingwaswrongwiththeworld,asomber,frighteningwrongnessthatpervadedeverythinglikeadarkimpenetrablemist,stealthilyclosingaroundScarlett.ThiswrongnesswentevendeeperthanBonnie’sdeath,fornowthefirstunbearableanguishwasfadingintoresignedacceptanceofherloss.Yetthiseeriesenseofdisastertocomepersisted,asthoughsomethingblackandhoodedstoodjustathershoulder,asthoughthegroundbeneathherfeetmightturntoquicksandasshetroduponit.

           Shehadneverbeforeknownthistypeoffear.Allherlifeherfeethadbeenfirmlyplantedincommonsenseandtheonlythingsshehadeverfearedhadbeenthethingsshecouldsee,injury,hunger,poverty,lossofAshley’slove.Unanalyticalshewastryingtoanalyzenowandwithnosuccess.Shehadlostherdearestchildbutshecouldstandthat,somehow,asshehadstoodothercrushinglosses.Shehadherhealth,shehadasmuchmoneyasshecouldwishandshestillhadAshley,thoughshesawlessandlessofhimthesedays.EventheconstraintwhichhadbeenbetweenthemsincethedayofMelanie’sill-starredsurprisepartydidnotworryher,forsheknewitwouldpass.No,herfearwasnotofpainorhungerorlossoflove.Thosefearshadneverweighedherdownasthisfeelingofwrongnesswasdoing—thisblightingfearthatwasoddlylikethatwhichsheknewinheroldnightmare,athick,swimmingmistthroughwhichsheranwithburstingheart,alostchildseekingahaventhatwashiddenfromher.