Унесенные ветром

Chapter 12

           Theever-presentwarinthebackgroundlentapleasantinformalitytosocialrelations,aninformalitywhicholderpeopleviewedwithalarm.Mothersfoundstrangemencallingontheirdaughters,menwhocamewithoutlettersofintroductionandwhoseantecedentswereunknown.Totheirhorror,mothersfoundtheirdaughtersholdinghandswiththesemen.Mrs.Merriwether,whohadneverkissedherhusbanduntilaftertheweddingceremony,couldscarcelybelievehereyeswhenshecaughtMaybellekissingthelittleZouave,RenePicard,andherconsternationwasevengreaterwhenMaybellerefusedtobeashamed.EventhefactthatReneimmediatelyaskedforherhanddidnotimprovematters.Mrs.MerriwetherfeltthattheSouthwasheadingforacompletemoralcollapseandfrequentlysaidso.Othermothersconcurredheartilywithherandblameditonthewar.

           Butmenwhoexpectedtodiewithinaweekoramonthcouldnotwaitayearbeforetheybeggedtocallagirlbyherfirstname,with"Miss,"ofcourse,precedingit.Norwouldtheygothroughtheformalandprotractedcourtshipswhichgoodmannershadprescribedbeforethewar.Theywerelikelytoproposeinthreeorfourmonths.Andgirlswhoknewverywellthataladyalwaysrefusedagentlemanthefirstthreetimesheproposedrushedheadlongtoacceptthefirsttime.

           ThisinformalitymadethewaralotoffunforScarlett.Exceptforthemessybusinessofnursingandtheboreofbandagerolling,shedidnotcareifthewarlastedforever.

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