Chapter 6

           Theycrossedtheriverandthecarriagemountedthehill.EvenbeforeTwelveOakscameintoviewScarlettsawahazeofsmokehanginglazilyinthetopsofthetalltreesandsmelledthemingledsavoryodorsofburninghickorylogsandroastingporkandmutton.

           Thebarbecuepits,whichhadbeenslowlyburningsincelastnight,wouldnowbelongtroughsofrose-redembers,withthemeatsturningonspitsabovethemandthejuicestricklingdownandhissingintothecoals.Scarlettknewthatthefragrancecarriedonthefaintbreezecamefromthegroveofgreatoaksintherearofthebighouse.JohnWilkesalwaysheldhisbarbecuesthere,onthegentleslopeleadingdowntotherosegarden,apleasantshadyplaceandafarpleasanterplace,forinstance,thanthatusedbytheCalverts.Mrs.Calvertdidnotlikebarbecuefoodanddeclaredthatthesmellsremainedinthehousefordays,soherguestsalwaysswelteredonaflatunshadedspotaquarterofamilefromthehouse.ButJohnWilkes,famedthroughoutthestateforhishospitality,reallyknewhowtogiveabarbecue.

           Thelongtrestledpicnictables,coveredwiththefinestoftheWilkeses’linen,alwaysstoodunderthethickestshade,withbacklessbenchesoneitherside;andchairs,hassocksandcushionsfromthehousewerescatteredaboutthegladeforthosewhodidnotfancythebenches.Atadistancegreatenoughtokeepthesmokeawayfromtheguestswerethelongpitswherethemeatscookedandthehugeironwash-potsfromwhichthesucculentodorsofbarbecuesauceandBrunswickstewfloated.Mr.Wilkesalwayshadatleastadozendarkiesbusyrunningbackandforthwithtraystoservetheguests.Overbehindthebarnstherewasalwaysanotherbarbecuepit,wherethehouseservantsandthecoachmenandmaidsoftheguestshadtheirownfeastofhoecakesandyamsandchitterlings,thatdishofhogentrailssodeartonegrohearts,and,inseason,watermelonsenoughtosatiate.