Part 1

Chapter 1

           ScarlettO’Harawasnotbeautiful,butmenseldomrealizeditwhencaughtbyhercharmastheTarletontwinswere. Inherfaceweretoosharplyblendedthedelicatefeaturesofhermother,aCoastaristocratofFrenchdescent,andtheheavyonesofherfloridIrishfather. Butitwasanarrestingface,pointedofchin,squareofjaw. Hereyeswerepalegreenwithoutatouchofhazel,starredwithbristlyblacklashesandslightlytiltedattheends. Abovethem,herthickblackbrowsslantedupward,cuttingastartlingobliquelineinhermagnolia-whiteskinthatskinsoprizedbySouthernwomenandsocarefullyguardedwithbonnets,veilsandmittensagainsthotGeorgiasuns. 

           SeatedwithStuartandBrentTarletoninthecoolshadeoftheporchofTara,herfather’splantation,thatbrightAprilafternoonof1861,shemadeaprettypicture. Hernewgreenflowered-muslindressspreaditstwelveyardsofbillowingmaterialoverherhoopsandexactlymatchedtheflat-heeledgreenmoroccoslippersherfatherhadrecentlybroughtherfromAtlanta. Thedresssetofftoperfectiontheseventeen-inchwaist,thesmallestinthreecounties,andthetightlyfittingbasqueshowedbreastswellmaturedforhersixteenyears. Butforallthemodestyofherspreadingskirts,thedemurenessofhairnettedsmoothlyintoachignonandthequietnessofsmallwhitehandsfoldedinherlap,hertrueselfwaspoorlyconcealed. Thegreeneyesinthecarefullysweetfacewereturbulent,willful,lustywithlife,distinctlyatvariancewithherdecorousdemeanor. Hermannershadbeenimposeduponherbyhermother’sgentleadmonitionsandthesternerdisciplineofhermammy; hereyeswereherown. 

           Oneithersideofher,thetwinsloungedeasilyintheirchairs,squintingatthesunlightthroughtallmint-garnishedglassesastheylaughedandtalked,theirlonglegs,bootedtothekneeandthickwithsaddlemuscles,crossednegligently. 

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