Chapter 15

           Thearmy,drivenbackintoVirginia,wentintowinterquartersontheRapidanatired,depletedarmysincethedefeatatGettysburgandastheChristmasseasonapproached,Ashleycamehomeonfurlough.Scarlett,seeinghimforthefirsttimeinmorethantwoyears,wasfrightenedbytheviolenceofherfeelings.WhenshehadstoodintheparloratTwelveOaksandseenhimmarriedtoMelanie,shehadthoughtshecouldneverlovehimwithamoreheartbreakingintensitythanshedidatthatmoment.Butnowsheknewherfeelingsofthatlong-pastnightwerethoseofaspoiledchildthwartedofatoy.Now,heremotionsweresharpenedbyherlongdreamsofhim,heightenedbytherepressionshehadbeenforcedtoputonhertongue.

           ThisAshleyWilkesinhisfaded,patcheduniform,hisblondhairbleachedtowbysummersuns,wasadifferentmanfromtheeasy-going,drowsy-eyedboyshehadlovedtodesperationbeforethewar.Andhewasathousandtimesmorethrilling.Hewasbronzedandleannow,wherehehadoncebeenfairandslender,andthelonggoldenmustachedroopingabouthismouth,cavalrystyle,wasthelasttouchneededtomakehimtheperfectpictureofasoldier.

           Hestoodwithmilitarystraightnessinhisolduniform,hispistolinitswornholster,hisbatteredscabbardsmartlyslappinghishighboots,histarnishedspursdullygleamingMajorAshleyWilkes,C.S.A.Thehabitofcommandsatuponhimnow,aquietairofself-relianceandauthority,andgrimlineswerebeginningtoemergeabouthismouth.

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