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Chapter 2

           HerfatherhadriddenovertoTwelveOaks,theWilkesplantation,thatafternoontooffertobuyDilcey,thebroadwifeofhisvalet,Pork. DilceywasheadwomanandmidwifeatTwelveOaks,and,sincethemarriagesixmonthsago,PorkhaddeviledhismasternightanddaytobuyDilcey,sothetwocouldliveonthesameplantation. Thatafternoon,Gerald,hisresistancewornthin,hadsetouttomakeanofferforDilcey. 

           Surely,thoughtScarlett,Pawillknowwhetherthisawfulstoryistrue. Evenifhehasn’tactuallyheardanythingthisafternoon,perhapshe’snoticedsomething,sensedsomeexcitementintheWilkesfamily. IfIcanjustseehimprivatelybeforesupper,perhapsI’llfindoutthetruththatit’sjustoneofthetwins’nastypracticaljokes. 

           ItwastimeforGerald’sreturnand,ifsheexpectedtoseehimalone,therewasnothingforhertodoexceptmeethimwherethedrivewayenteredtheroad. Shewentquietlydownthefrontsteps,lookingcarefullyoverhershouldertomakesureMammywasnotobservingherfromtheupstairswindows. Seeingnobroadblackface,turbanedinsnowywhite,peeringdisapprovinglyfrombetweenflutteringcurtains,sheboldlysnatcheduphergreenfloweredskirtsandspeddownthepathtowardthedrivewayasfastashersmallribbon-lacedslipperswouldcarryher. 

           Thedarkcedarsoneithersideofthegraveleddrivemetinanarchoverhead,turningthelongavenueintoadimtunnel. Assoonasshewasbeneaththegnarledarmsofthecedars,sheknewshewassafefromobservationfromthehouseandsheslowedherswiftpace. Shewaspanting,forherstayswerelacedtootightlytopermitmuchrunning,butshewalkedonasrapidlyasshecould. 

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