Chapter 7

           WithintwoweeksScarletthadbecomeawife,andwithintwomonthsmoreshewasawidow.Shewassoonreleasedfromthebondsshehadassumedwithsomuchhasteandsolittlethought,butshewasneveragaintoknowthecarelessfreedomofherunmarrieddays.Widowhoodhadcrowdedcloselyontheheelsofmarriagebut,toherdismay,motherhoodsoonfollowed.

           InafteryearswhenshethoughtofthoselastdaysofApril,1861,Scarlettcouldneverquiterememberdetails.Timeandeventsweretelescoped,jumbledtogetherlikeanightmarethathadnorealityorreason.Tillthedayshediedtherewouldbeblankspotsinhermemoriesofthosedays.EspeciallyvaguewereherrecollectionsofthetimebetweenheracceptanceofCharlesandherwedding.Twoweeks!Soshortanengagementwouldhavebeenimpossibleintimesofpeace.Thentherewouldhavebeenadecorousintervalofayearoratleastsixmonths.ButtheSouthwasaflamewithwar,eventsroaredalongasswiftlyasifcarriedbyamightywindandtheslowtempooftheolddayswasgone.Ellenhadwrungherhandsandcounseleddelay,inorderthatScarlettmightthinkthematteroveratgreaterlength.Buttoherpleadings,Scarlettturnedasullenfaceandadeafear.Marryshewould!andquicklytoo.Withintwoweeks.

           LearningthatAshley’sweddinghadbeenmovedupfromtheautumntothefirstofMay,sohecouldleavewiththeTroopassoonasitwascalledintoservice,Scarlettsetthedateofherweddingforthedaybeforehis.EllenprotestedbutCharlespleadedwithnew-foundeloquence,forhewasimpatienttobeofftoSouthCarolinatojoinWadeHampton’sLegion,andGeraldsidedwiththetwoyoungpeople.HewasexcitedbythewarfeverandpleasedthatScarletthadmadesogoodamatch,andwhowashetostandinthewayofyounglovewhentherewasawar?