飘

　This　arrangement　met　with　the　disapproval　of　the　three　parties　concerned；　Wash；　Mr。　Butler　and　Bonnie。　Wash　was　afraid　of　horses　and　only　the　princely　sum　offered　induced　him　to　take　the　stubborn　pony　over　the　bar　dozens　of　times　a　day；　Mr。　Butler；　who　bore　with　equanimity　having　his　tail　pulled　by　his　small　mistress　and　his　hooves　examined　constantly；　felt　that　the　Creator　of　ponies　had　not　intended　him　to　put　his　fat　body　over　the　bar；　Bonnie；　who　could　not　bear　to　see　anyone　else　upon　her　pony；　danced　with　impatience　while　Mr。　Butler　was　learning　his　lessons。
　When　Rhett　finally　decided　that　the　pony　knew　his　business　well　enough　to　trust　Bonnie　upon　him；　the　child’s　excitement　was　boundless。　She　made　her　first　jump　with　flying　colors　and；　thereafter；　riding　abroad　with　her　father　held　no　charms　for　her。　Scarlett　could　not　help　laughing　at　the　pride　and　enthusiasm　of　father　and　daughter。　She　thought；　however；　that　once　the　novelty　had　passed；　Bonnie　would　turn　to　other　things　and　the　neighborhood　would　have　some　peace。　But　this　sport　did　not　pall。　There　was　a　bare　track　worn　from　the　arbor　at　the　far　end　of　the　yard　to　the　hurdle；　and　all　morning　long　the　yard　resounded　with　excited　yells。　Grandpa　Merriwether；　who　had　made　the　overland　trip　in　1849；　said　that　the　yells　sounded　just　like　an　Apache　after　a　successful　scalping。
　After　the　first　week；　Bonnie　begged　for　a　higher　bar；　a　bar　that　was　a　foot　and　a　half　from　the　ground。
　“When　you　are　six　years　old；”　said　Rhett。　“Then　you’ll　be　big　enough　for　a　higher　jump　and　I’ll　buy　you　a　bigger　horse。　Mr。　Butler’s　legs　aren’t　long　enough。”
　“They　are；　too；　I　jumped　Aunt　Melly’s　rose　bushes　and　they　are　‘normously　high！”
　“No；　you　must　wait；”　said　Rhett；　firm　for　once。　But　the　firmness　gradually　faded　away　before　her　incessant　importunings　and　tantrums。
　“Oh；　all　right；”　he　said　with　a　laugh　one　morning　and　moved　the　narrow　white　cross　bar　higher。　“If　you　fall　off；　don’t　cry　and　blame　me！”
　“Mother！”　screamed　Bonnie；　turning　her　head　up　toward　Scarlett’s　bedroom。　“Mother！　Watch　me！　Daddy　says　I　can！”
　Scarlett；　who　was　combing　her　hair；　came　to　the　window　and　smiled　down　at　the　tiny　excited　figure；　so　absurd　in　the　soiled　blue　habit。
　“I　really　must　get　her　another　habit；”　she　thought。　“Though　Heaven　only　knows　how　I’ll　make　her　give　up　that　dirty　one。”
　“Mother；　watch！”
　“I’m　watching　dear；”　said　Scarlett　smiling。
　As　Rhett　lifted　the　child　and　set　her　on　the　pony；　Scarlett　called　with　a　swift　rush　of　pride　at　the　straight　back　and　the　proud　set　of　the　head；
　“You’re　mighty　pretty；　precious！”
　“So　are　you；”　said　Bonnie　generously　and；　hammering　a　heel　into　Mr。　Butler’s　ribs；　she　galloped　down　the　yard　toward　the　arbor。
　“Mother；　watch　me　take　this　one！”　she　cried；　laying　on　the　crop。
　Watch　me　take　this　one！
　Memory　rang　a　bell　far　back　in　Scarlett’s　mind。　There　was　something　ominous　about　those　words。　What　was　it？　Why　couldn’t　she　remember？　She　looked　down　at　her　small　daughter；　so　lightly　poised　on　the　galloping　pony　and　her　brow　wrinkled　as　a　chill　swept　swiftly　through　her　breast。　Bonnie　came　on　with　a　rush；　her　crisp　black　curls　jerking；　her　blue　eyes　blazing。
　“They　are　like　Pa’s　eyes；”　thought　Scarlett；　“Irish　blue　eyes　and　she’s　just　like　him　in　every　way。”
　And；　as　she　thought　of　Gerald；　the　memory　for　which　she　had　been　rumbling　came　to　her　swiftly；　came　with　the　heart　stopping　clarity　of　summer　lightning；　throwing；　for　an　instant；　a　whole　countryside　into　unnatural　brightness。　She　could　hear　an　Irish　voice　singing；　hear　the　hard　rapid　pounding　of　hooves　coming　up　the　pasture　hill　at　Tara；　hear　a　reckless　voice；　so　like　the　voice　of　her　child：　“Ellen！　Watch　me　take　this　one！”
　“No！”　she　cried。　“No！　Oh；　Bonnie；　stop！”
　Even　as　she　leaned　from　the　window　there　was　a　fearful　sound　of　splintering　wood；　a　hoarse　cry　from　Rhett；　a　melee　of　blue　velvet　and　flying　hooves　on　the　ground。　Then　Mr。　Butler　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　trotted　off　with　an　empty　saddle。
　
　On　the　third　night　after　Bonnie’s　death；　Mammy　waddled　slowly　up　the　kitchen　steps　of　Melanie’s　house。　She　was　dressed　in　black　from　her　huge　men’s　shoes；　slashed　to　permit　freedom　for　her　toes；　to　her　black　head　rag。　Her　blurred　old　eyes　were　bloodshot　and　red　rimmed；　and　misery　cried　out　in　every　line　of　her　mountainous　figure。　Her　face　was　puckered　in　the　sad　bewilderment　of　an　old　ape　but　there　was　determination　in　her　jaw。
　She　spoke　a　few　soft　words　to　Dilcey　who　nodded　kindly；　as　though　an　unspoken　armistice　existed　in　their　old　feud。　Dilcey　put　down　the　supper　dishes　she　was　holding　and　went　quietly　through　the　pantry　toward　the　dining　room。　In　a　minute　Melanie　was　in　the　kitchen；　her　table　napkin　in　her　hand；　anxiety　in　her　face。
　“Miss　Scarlet　isn’t—”
　“Miss　Scarlett　bearin’　up；　same　as　allus；”　said　Mammy　heavily。　“Ah　din’　ten　ter　‘sturb　yo’　supper；　Miss　Melly。　Ah　kin　wait　tell　you　thoo　ter　tell　you　whut　Ah　got　on　mah　mine。”
　“Supper　can　wait；”　said　Melanie。　“Dilcey；　serve　the　rest　of　the　supper。　Mammy；　come　with　me。”
　Mammy　waddled　after　her；　down　the　hall　past　the　dining　room　where　Ashley　sat　at　the　head　of　the　table；　his　own　little　Beau　beside　him　and　Scarlett’s　two　children　opposite；　pairing　a　great　clatter　with　their　soup　spoons。　The　happy　voices　of　Wade　and　Ella　filled　the　room。　It　was　like　a　picnic　for　them　to　spend　so　long　a　visit　with　Aunt　Melly。　Aunt　Melly　was　always　so　kind　and　she　was　especially　so　now。　The　death　of　their　younger　sister　had　affected　them　very　little。　Bonnie　had　fallen　off　her　pony　and　Mother　had　cried　a　long　time　and　Aunt　Melly　had　taken　them　home　with　her　to　play　in　the　back　yard　with　Beau　and　have　tea　cakes　whenever　they　wanted　them。
　Melanie　led　the　way　to　the　small　book…lined　sitting　room；　shut　the　door　and　motioned　Mammy　to　the　sofa。
　“I　was　going　over　right　after　supper；”　she　said。　“Now　that　Captain　Butler’s　mother　has　come；　I　suppose　the　funeral　will　be　tomorrow　morning。”
　“De　fune’l。　Dat’s　jes’　it；”　said　Mammy。　“Miss　Melly；　we’s　all　in　deep　trouble　an’　Ah’s　come　ter　you　fer　he’p。　Ain’　nuthin’　but　weery　load；　honey；　nuthin’　but　weery　load。”
　“Has　Miss　Scarlett　collapsed？”　questioned　Melanie　worriedly。　“I’ve　hardly　seen　her　since　Bonnie—　She　has　been　in　her　room　and　Captain　Butler　has　been　out　of　the　house　and—”
　Suddenly　tears　began　to　flow　down　Mammy’s　black　face。　Melanie　sat　down　beside　her　and　patted　her　arm　and；　after　a　moment；　Mammy　lifted　the　hem　of　her　black　skirt　and　dried　her　eyes。
　“You　got　ter　come　he’p　us；　Miss　Melly。　Ah　done　de　bes’　Ah　kin　but　it　doan　do　no　good。”
　“Miss　Scarlett—”
　Mammy　straightened。
　“Miss　Melly；　you　knows　Miss　Scarlett　well’s　Ah　does。　Whut　dat　chile　got　ter　stan’；　de　good　Lawd　give　her　strent　ter　stan’。　Disyere　done　broke　her　heart　but　she　kin　stan’　it。　It’s　Mist’　Rhett　Ah　come　‘bout。”
　“I　have　so　wanted　to　see　him　but　whenever　I’ve　been　there；　he　has　either　been　downtown　or　locked　in　his　room　with—　And　Scarlett　has　looked　like　a　ghost　and　wouldn’t　speak—　Tell　me　quickly；　Mammy。　You　know　I’ll　help　if　I　can。”
　Mammy　wiped　her　nose　on　the　back　of　her　hand。　“Ah　say　Miss　Scarlett　kin　stan’　whut　de　Lawd　sen’；　kase　she　done　had　ter　stan’　a…plen’y；　but　Mist’　Rhett—　Miss　Melly；　he　ain’　never　had　ter　stan’　nuthin’　he　din’　wanter　stan’；　not　nuthin’。　It’s　him　Ah　come　ter　see　you　‘bout。”
　“But—”
　“Miss　Melly；　you　got　ter　come　home　wid　me；　dis　evenin’。”　There　was　urgency　in　Mammy’s　voice。　“Maybe　Mist’　Rhett　lissen　ter　you。　He　allus　did　think　a　heap　of　yo’　‘pinion。”
　“Oh；　Mammy；　what　is　it？　What　do　you　mean？”
　Mammy　squared　her　shoulders。
　“Miss　Melly；　Mist’　Rhett　done—done　los’　his　mine。　He　woan　let　us　put　Lil　Miss　away。”
　“Lost　his　mind？　Oh；　Mammy；　no！”
　“Ah　ain’　lyin’。　It’s　de　Gawd’s　truff。　He　ain’　gwine　let　us　buhy　dat　chile。　He　done　tole　me　so　hisseff；　not　mo’n　an　hour　ago。”
　“But　he　can’t—he　isn’t—”
　“Dat’s　huccome　Ah　say　he　los’　his　mine。”
　“But　why—”
　“Miss　Melly；　Ah　tell　you　everything。　Ah　oughtn’　tell　nobody；　but　you　is　our　fambly　an’　you　is　de　onlies’　one　Ah　kin　tell。　Ah　tell　you　eve’ything。　You　knows　whut　a　sto’　he　set　by　dat　chile。　Ah　ain’　never　seed　no　man；　black　or　w’ite；　set　sech　a　sto’　by　any　chile。　Look　lak　he　go　plumb　crazy　w’en　Doctah　Meade　say　her　neck　broke。　He　grab　his　gun　an’　he　run　right　out　an’　shoot　dat　po’　pony　an’；　fo’　Gawd；　Ah　think　he　gwine　shoot　hisseff。　Ah　wuz　plumb　‘stracted　whut　wid　Miss　Scarlett　in　a　swoon　an’　all　de　neighbors　in　an’　outer　de　house　an’　Mist’　Rhett　cahyin’　on　an’　jes’　holin’　dat　chile　an’　not　even　lettin’　me　wash　her　lil　face　whar　de　grabble　cut　it。　An’　w’en　Miss　Scarlett　come　to；　Ah　think；　bress　Gawd！　Now　dey　kin　comfo’t　each　other。”
　Again　the　tears　began　to　fall　but　this　time　Mammy　did　not　even　wipe　them　away。
　“But　w’en　she　come　to；　she　go　inter　de　room　whar　he　setin’；　holin’　Miss　Bonnie；　an’　she　say：　‘Gimme　mah　baby　whut　you　kilt。’　”
　“Oh；　no！　She　couldn’t！”
　“Yas’m。　Dat　whut　she　say。　She　say：　‘You　kilt　her。’　An’　Ah　felt　so　sorry　fer　Mist’　Rhett　Ah　bust　out　cryin’；　kase　he