“Dont ! Dont !” cried Melanie, dropping her tatting and flinging
herself onto the sofa and drawing Scarletts head down onto her
shoulder. “I shouldnt have talked about it all and distressed you
so. I know how dreadfully you must feel and well never mention it
again. No, not to each other or to anybody. Itll be as though it
never happened. But,” she added with quiet venom, “Im going to show
India and Mrs. Elsing whats what. They neednt think they can spread
lies about my husband and my sister-in-law. Im going to fix it so
neither of them can hold up their heads in Atlanta. And anybody who
believes them or receives them is my enemy.”
Scarlett, looking sorrowfully down the long vista of years to
come, knew that she was the cause of a feud that would split the
town and the family for generations.
Melanie was as good as her word. She never again mentioned the
subject to Scarlett or to Ashley. Nor, for that matter, would she
discuss it with anyone. She maintained an air of cool indifference
that could speedily change to icy formality if anyone even dared
hint about the matter. During the weeks that followed her surprise
party, while Rhett was mysteriously absent and the town in a
frenzied state of gossip, excitement and partisanship.