"Ashley!" She began to run, slipping
and sliding on the wet grassThe umbrella she had thrown aside
scudded across the ground, pushed by the wind until it was trapped in
the mounds of flowersShe grabbed Ashley around the waist, tried to
pull him away from the danger"Ashley, don't!"
Scarlett struggled against his strength"Melly can't help you now
Her voice was harsh, to cut through Ashley's unhearing, demented
grief
He halted, and his arms dropped to hissidesHe moaned softly, and
then
his whole body crumpled in Scarlett's supporting armsJust when her
grasp was breaking from the weight of him, DrMeade and India
caught
Ashley's limp arms to lift him erect"You can go now, Scarlett," said
Dr"There's no more chanel earings damage left for you to do
"But, I-" She looked at the faces around her, the eyes avid for more
sensationThen she turned and walked away through the rainThe
crowd drew back as if a brush of her skirts might soil themThey
must
not know that she cared, she wouldn't let them see that they could
hurt
herScarlett raised her chin defiantly, letting the rain pour down
over her face and neck
Her back was straight, her shoulders square until she reached the
gates
of the cemetery and was out of sightThen she grabbed one of the
iron
pilingsShe felt dizzy from exhaustion, unsteady on her feetHer
coachman Elias ran to her, opening his umbrella to above her bent
head
Scarlett walked to her carriage, ignoring the hand held deville watch out to help
herInside the plush-upholstered box, she sank into a corner and
pulled up the woolen lap robeShe was chilled to the bone, horrified
by what she had doneHow could she have shamed Ashley like that in
front of everybody, when only a few nights ago she had promised
Melanie
that she would take care of him, protect him as Melly had always
done?
But what else could she have done?
Let him throw himself into the grave? She had to stop himThe
carriage jolted from side to side, its high wheels sinking into the
deep ruts of clay mudScarlett nearly fell to the floorHer elbow
hit the window frame, and a sharp pain ran up and down her armIt
was
only physical pain, she could stand thatIt was the other black quilted bag pain-the
postponed, delayed, denied shadowy pain-that she couldn't bearNot
yet, not here, not when she was all aloneShe had to get to Tara, she
had toMammy would put her brown arms
around her,
Mammy would hold her close, cradle her head on the breast where
she'd
sobbed out all her childhood hurtsShe could cry in Mammy's arms,
cry
herself empty of pain; she could rest her head on Mammy's breast,
rest
her wounded heart on Mammy's love
Mammy would hold her and love her, would share her pain and help
her
bear it"Hurry, Elias," said Scarlett, "hurry
"Help me out of these wet things, Pansy," Scarlett ordered her maid
Her face was ghostly pale, it made her green eyes look darker,
brighter, more frighteningThe young gucci paolo watches black girl was clumsy with
nervousnessIf you make me miss my train, take
a strap to y) She couldn't do it, Pansy knew she couldn't do it
The slavery days were over, Miss Scarlett didn't own her, she could
quit any time she wanted toBut the desperate, feverish glint in
Scarlett's green eyes made Pansy doubt her own knowledge
Scarlett looked capable of anything"Pack the black wool merino, it's
going to be colder," said ScarlettShe stared at the open wardrobe
Black wool, black silk, black cotton, black twill, black velvetShe
could go on mourning for the rest of her daysMourning for Bonnie
still, and now mourning for J MelanieI should find something darker
than black, something more mournful to wear to mourn for cartier santos de cartier myse

Such was the state of affairs in the month of July; and Fanny had
just reached her eighteenth year, when the society of the village received
an addition in the brother and sister of Mrs
and Miss Crawford, the children of her mother by a second marriage
They were young people of fortuneThe son had a good estate
in Norfolk, the daughter twenty thousand poundsAs children,
their sister had been always very fond of them; but, as her own
marriage had been soon followed by the death of their common
parent, which left them to the care of a brother of their father, of
whom MrsGrant knew nothing, she had scarcely seen them since
In their uncle?s house they had found a kind homeCrawford, though agreeing in nothing else, were united in
affection for these children, or, at least, were no farther adverse in
35
Jane Austen
their feelings than that each had their favourite, to whom they showed
the greatest fondness of the twoThe Admiral delighted in the boy,
MrsCrawford doted on the girl; and it was the lady?s death which
now obliged her protegee, after some months? further trial at her
uncle?s house, to find another homeAdmiral Crawford was a man
of vicious conduct, who chose, instead of retaining his niece, to
bring his mistress under his chanel watches own roof; and to this MrsGrant was
indebted for her sister?s proposal of coming to her, a measure quite
as welcome on one side as it could be expedient on the other; for
MrsGrant, having by this time run through the usual resources of
ladies residing in the country without a family of children?having
more than filled her favourite sitting-room with pretty furniture,
and made a choice collection of plants and poultry?was very much
in want of some variety at homeThe arrival, therefore, of a sister
whom she had always loved, and now hoped to retain with her as
long as she remained single, was highly agreeable; and her chief
anxiety was lest Mansfield should not satisfy the habits of a young
woman who had been mostly used to London
Miss Crawford was not entirely free from similar apprehensions,
though they arose principally from doubts of her sister?s style of
living and tone of society; and it was not till after she had tried in
vain to persuade her brother to settle with her at his own country
house, that she could resolve to hazard herself among her other relations
To anything like a permanence of abode, or limitation of society,
Henry Crawford had, unluckily, a great dislike: he could not
accommodate his sister in an article of chanel wallet such importance; but he
escorted her, with the utmost kindness, into Northamptonshire, and
as readily engaged to fetch her away again, at half an hour?s notice,
whenever she were weary of the place
The meeting was very satisfactory on each sideMiss Crawford
found a sister without preciseness or rusticity, a sister?s husband who
looked the gentleman, and a house commodious and well fitted up;
and MrsGrant received in those whom she hoped to love better
than ever a young man and woman of very prepossessing appearance
Mary Crawford was remarkably pretty; Henry, though not
handsome, had air and countenance; the manners of both were lively
and pleasant, and MrsGrant immediately gave them credit for ev36
Mansfield Park
erything elseShe was delighted with each, but Mary was her dearest
object; and having never been able to glory in beauty of her own,
she thoroughly enjoyed the power of being proud of her sister?sShe
had not waited her arrival to look out for a suitable match for her:
she had fixed on Tom Bertram; the eldest son of a baronet was not
too good for a girl of twenty thousand pounds, with all the elegance
and accomplishments which MrsGrant foresaw in her; and being
a warm-hearted, unreserved woman, Mary had not been three prada black bags hours
in the house before she told her what she had planned
Miss Crawford was glad to find a family of such consequence so
very near them, and not at all displeased either at her sister?s early
care, or the choice it had fallen onMatrimony was her object, provided
she could marry well: and having seen MrBertram in town,
she knew that objection could no more be made to his person than
to his situation in lifeWhile she treated it as a joke, therefore, she
did not forget to think of it seriouslyThe scheme was soon repeated
to Henry
?And now,? added MrsGrant, ?I have thought of something to
make it completeI should dearly love to settle you both in this
country; and therefore, Henry, you shall marry the youngest Miss
Bertram, a nice, handsome, good-humoured, accomplished girl, who
will make you very happy
Henry bowed and thanked her
?My dear sister,? said Mary, ?if you can persuade him into anything
of the sort, it will be a fresh matter of delight to me to find
myself allied to anybody so clever, and I shall only regret that you
have not half a dozen daughters to dispose ofIf you can persuade
Henry to marry, you must have the address of a FrenchwomanAll
that English abilities can do has been tried alreadyI have three rolex vintage women's watch very
particular friends who have been all dying for him in their turn; and
the pains which they, their mothers (very clever women), as well as
my dear aunt and myself, have taken to reason, coax, or trick him
into marrying, is inconceivable! He is the most horrible flirt that
can be imaginedIf your Miss Bertrams do not like to have their
hearts broke, let them avoid Henry
?My dear brother, I will not believe this of you
?No, I am sure you are too goodYou will be kinder than Mary
37
Jane Austen
You will allow for the doubts of youth and inexperienceI am of a
cautious temper, and unwilling to risk my happiness in a hurry
Nobody can think more highly of the matrimonial state than myself
I consider the blessing of a wife as most justly described in those
discreet lines of the poet??Heaven?s last best giftGrant, you see how he dwells on one word, and
only look at his smileI assure you he is very detestable; the Admiral?s
lessons have quite spoiled him
?I pay very little regard,? said MrsGrant, ?to what any young
person says on the subject of marriageIf they profess a disinclination
for it, I only set it down that they have not yet seen the right
personGrant laughingly congratulated Miss Crawford on feeling no
disinclination to the state gucci purses hers

Fanny estranged from him, silent and reserved,
was an unnatural state of things; a state which he must break through,
and which he could easily learn to think she was wanting him to
break through
?I will speak to her, sir: I will take the first opportunity of speaking
to her alone,? was the result of such thoughts as these; and upon
Sir Thomas?s information of her being at that very time walking
alone in the shrubbery, he instantly joined her
300
Mansfield Park
?I am come to walk with you, Fanny,? said he?Shall I?? Drawing
her arm within his?It is a long while since we have had a comfortable
walk together
She assented to it all rather by look than wordHer spirits were
low
?But, Fanny,? he presently added, ?in order to have a comfortable
walk, something more is necessary than merely pacing this gravel
togetherI know you have something on your
mindI know what you are thinking ofYou cannot suppose me
uninformedAm I to hear of it from everybody but Fanny herself??
Fanny, gucci purses at once agitated and dejected, replied, ?If you hear of it
from everybody, cousin, there can be nothing for me to tell
?Not of facts, perhaps; but of feelings, FannyNo one but you can
tell me themI do not mean to press you, howeverIf it is not what
you wish yourself, I have doneI had thought it might be a relief
?I am afraid we think too differently for me to find any relief in
talking of what I feel
?Do you suppose that we think differently? I have no idea of itI
dare say that, on a comparison of our opinions, they would be found
as much alike as they have been used to be: to the point?I consider
Crawford?s proposals as most advantageous and desirable, if you
could return his affectionI consider it as most natural that all your
family should wish you could return it; but that, as you cannot, you
have done exactly as you ought in refusing himCan there be any
disagreement between us here??
?Oh no! But I thought you blamed meI thought you were against
meThis is such a chanel necklace comfort!?
?This comfort you might have had sooner, Fanny, had you sought
itBut how could you possibly suppose me against you? How could
you imagine me an advocate for marriage without love? Were I even
careless in general on such matters, how could you imagine me so
where your happiness was at stake??
?My uncle thought me wrong, and I knew he had been talking to
you
?As far as you have gone, Fanny, I think you perfectly rightI may
be sorry, I may be surprised?though hardly that, for you had not
had time to attach yourself?but I think you perfectly rightCan it
301
Jane Austen
admit of a question? It is disgraceful to us if it doesYou did not love
him; nothing could have justified your accepting him
Fanny had not felt so comfortable for days and days
?So far your conduct has been faultless, and they were quite mistaken
who wished you to do otherwiseBut the matter does not end
hereCrawford?s is no common attachment; he perseveres, with the
hope of creating that regard dolce

My grief, when she got a taste of
how
Southerners treat folks, her head was so turned I expected her to start
walking backwards to see where she was going
"Poor
Hannah," he said, "she may never again in her life feel so delightfully
attractive and wittyHe told me he wants to
move
back to the SouthThis visit will probably make Hannah agree
There's a foot of snow on the ground in Philadelphia Scarlett
laughed softly into the balmy darkness, then smiled with warm
contentmentWhen she and Rhett walked through the light of the
next
streetlamp, she saw that he was smiling, tooThere was no further
need to talkIt was enough that they were both feeling good, both
smiling, walking chanel black wallet together, in no hurry to be any place elseTheir
route took them past the docksThe sidewalk abutted a long row of
ships chandlers, narrow buildings with tightly shuttered shops on
street level and the darkened windows of living quarters aboveMany
of the windows were open to the almost-summery warmth of the
nightA
dog barked half-heartedly at the sound of their stepsRhett
commanded
it to be quiet, his own voice mutedThe dog whimpered once, then
was
still
They walked forward, past widely spaced street lampsRhett adjusted
his long stride automatically to match Scarlett's shorter one, and the
sound of heels on brick became a single clack clack clack
clack-testimony of the comfortable vintage tank watch unity of the momentOne street
lamp had gone outIn the patch of greater darkness Scarlett noticed
for the first time that the sky seemed very near, its spangling of
stars brighter than she could remember them ever beforeOne star
looked almost close enough to touch"Rhett, look at the sky," she
said
softly"The stars look so close He stopped walking, put his hand
over hers to signal her to stop, too"It's because of the sea," he
said, the sound of his voice low and warm
"We're past the warehouses now, and there's only waterListen and
you
can hear it breathing They stood very stillScarlett strained to
hearThe rhythmic slap slap of the moving water against the invisible
pilings of the chanel purses bags seawall became audible
Gradually it seemed to get louder, until she was amazed she hadn't
been
hearing it all the timeThen another sound merged with the cadence
of
the tidal riverIt was music, a thin high slow procession of notes
The purity of them made her eyes fill with unexpected tears"Do you
hear it?" she asked fearfullyWas she imagining things? "YesIt's
a homesick sailor on the ship anchored out thereThe tune is 'Across
the Wide Missouri They make those flute-like whistles themselves
Some of them have a real gift for playingHe must have the watch
See, there's a lantern in the rigging, that's where the ship isThe
lantern's supposed to warn any other ship traffic that she's fendi spy anchored
there, but you always have a man on watch, too, to look for anything
approachingMaybe two in busy lanes like this riverThere are
always small boats, people who know the river moving at night when
no
one can see them
"Why would they do that?"
"A thousand reasons, all of them either dishonest or noble, depending
on who's telling the story
Rhett sounded as if he were talking to himself more than to Scarlett
She looked at him but it was too dark to see his face
She looked back at the ship's lantern that she had mistaken for a star
and listened to the tide and the music of the yearning, anonymous
sailorSaint Michael's bells rang the three-quarter hourScarlett
tasted salt on her gucci purses l

"My God!" she said
aloud"Now flattering," he said with his twisty half
smileNo one else smiled like thatScarlett was filled with light,
with lightnessShe felt as if she were floating above the polished
floor, buoyant with happinessAnd then, before she could speak
again,
the quadrille took him awayShe smiled automatically at her new
partnerThe love burning in her eyes took his breath away
Her mind was racing: Why is Rhett here? Could it be because he
wanted
to see me? Because he had to see me, because he couldn't keep
away?
The quadrille moved at its stately tempo, making Scarlett with
impatienceWhen it ended, she was facing Charles Ragland- took
all
her self-control to smile and thank him and murmur a dior rasta excuse before
she
turned to search for RhettHer eyes met his almost immediatelyhe
was standing only arm's length away
Scarlett's pride kept her from reaching out to himhe knew be looking
for him, she thought angrilyWho does he think he anyhow, to come
strolling into my world and just stand there expect me to fall into
his arms? There are plenty of men in this room, even-who've been
smothering me with attention, hanging around my drawing room,
sending
flowers every day, notes, and even jewelryWhat makes Mister Nigh
and
Mighty Butler think that all he has to do is lift his little finger and
I'll running? "What a pleasant surprise," she said, and the cool tone
of her voice pleased her
Rhett held out his replicas bolsas hand, and she put hers in it without thinking
"May I have this dance, MrsO'hara?" Scarlett caught her
breath in alarm"Rhett, you're not going to tell on me?
Everybody believes I'm a widow!" he smiled and took her into his
arms
as the music began"Your secret is safe with me, Scarlett
She could feel the rasp of his voice on her skin, and his warm breath"What the devil are you doing here?" she askedHis hand was warm at her waist, strong,
supporting,
directing her body as they turnedUnconsciously Scarlett revelled in
his strength and rebelled against his control over her even as she
remembered the joy of following his steps in the giddying swirling
motion of the waltz"I couldn't resist my
curiosity," he said"I tiffany jewellery was in London on business, and everyone was
talking about an American who was taking Dublin Castle by storm
'Could that be Scarlett of the striped stockings?" I asked myselfBart Morland confirmed my suspicionsThen I
couldn't get him to stop talking about youhe even made me ride
with
him through your town
According to him, you rebuilt it with your own hands His eyes raked
over her from head to toe"You've changed, Scarlett," he said
quietly"The charming girl has become an elegant, grown-up woman
I
salute you, I really do The unvarnished honesty and warmth of
his voice made Scarlett forget her resentments"Thank you, Rhett,"
she
said"Are you happy in Ireland, Scarlett?"
"Yes, I am His words were rich with chanel purses and handbags deeper meaningFor the first
time in all the years she'd known him, Scarlett understood Rhett, at
least in parthe did come to see me, she understood, he's been
thinking about me all this time, worrying about where I'd gone and
how
I washe never stopped caring, no matter what he saidhe loves me
and always will, just as I'll always love him
The realization filled her with happiness, and she tasted it, like
champagne; sipped it, to make it lastRhett was here, with her, and
they were, in this moment, closer than they had ever beenAn
aide-decamp approached them when the waltz ended His Excellency
requests the honor of the next dance, Mrs Rhett raised his
eyebrows in the quizzical mockery Scarlett remembered so chanel costume jewelry wel