飘

dges。　Their　progress　was　slower　now；　for　from　porches　and　gardens　and　sidewalks　ladies　called　to　her。　Some　she　knew　slightly；　others　she　vaguely　remembered；　but　most　of　them　she　knew　not　at　all。　Pittypat　had　certainly　broadcast　her　arrival。　Little　Wade　had　to　be　held　up　time　and　again；　so　that　ladies　who　ventured　as　far　through　the　ooze　as　their　carriage　blocks　could　exclaim　over　him。　They　all　cried　to　her　that　she　must　join　their　knitting　and　sewing　circles　and　their　hospital　committees；　and　no　one　else’s；　and　she　promised　recklessly　to　right　and　left。
　As　they　passed　a　rambling　green　clapboard　house；　a　little　black　girl　posted　on　the　front　steps　cried；　“Hyah　she　come；”　and　Dr。　Meade　and　his　wife　and　little　thirteen…year…old　Phil　emerged；　calling　greetings。　Scarlett　recalled　that　they　too　had　been　at　her　wedding。　Mrs。　Meade　mounted　her　carriage　block　and　craned　her　neck　for　a　view　of　the　baby；　but　the　doctor；　disregarding　the　mud；　plowed　through　to　the　side　of　the　carriage。　He　was　tall　and　gaunt　and　wore　a　pointed　beard　of　iron　gray；　and　his　clothes　hung　on　his　spare　figure　as　though　blown　there　by　a　hurricane。　Atlanta　considered　him　the　root　of　all　strength　and　all　wisdom　and　it　was　not　strange　that　he　had　absorbed　something　of　their　belief。　But　for　all　his　habit　of　making　oracular　statements　and　his　slightly　pompous　manner；　he　was　as　kindly　a　man　as　the　town　possessed。
　After　shaking　her　hand　and　prodding　Wade　in　the　stomach　and　complimenting　him；　the　doctor　announced　that　Aunt　Pittypat　had　promised　on　oath　that　Scarlett　should　be　on　no　other　hospital　and　bandage…rolling　committee　save　Mrs。　Meade’s。
　“Oh；　dear；　but　I’ve　promised　a　thousand　ladies　already！”　said　Scarlett。
　“Mrs。　Merriwether。　I’ll　be　bound！”　cried　Mrs。　Meade　indignantly。　“Drat　the　woman！　I　believe　she　meets　every　train！”
　“I　promised　because　I　hadn’t　a　notion　what　it　was　all　about；”　Scarlett　confessed。　“What　are　hospital　committees　anyway？”
　Both　the　doctor　and　his　wife　looked　slightly　shocked　at　her　ignorance。
　“But；　of　course；　you’ve　been　buried　in　the　country　and　couldn’t　know；”　Mrs。　Meade　apologized　for　her。　“We　have　nursing　committees　for　different　hospitals　and　for　different　days。　We　nurse　the　men　and　help　the　doctors　and　make　bandages　and　clothes　and　when　the　men　are　well　enough　to　leave　the　hospitals　we　take　them　into　our　homes　to　convalesce　till　they　are　able　to　go　back　in　the　army。　And　we　look　after　the　wives　and　families　of　some　of　the　wounded　who　are　destitute—yes；　worse　than　destitute。　Dr。　Meade　is　at　the　Institute　hospital　where　my　committee　works；　and　everyone　says　he’s　marvelous　and—”
　“There；　there；　Mrs。　Meade；”　said　the　doctor　fondly。　“Don’t　go　bragging　on　me　in　front　of　folks。　It’s　little　enough　I　can　do；　since　you　wouldn’t　let　me　go　in　the　army。”
　“　‘Wouldn’t　let！’　”　she　cried　indignantly。　“Me？　The　town　wouldn’t　let　you　and　you　know　it。　Why；　Scarlett；　when　folks　heard　he　was　intending　to　go　to　Virginia　as　an　army　surgeon；　all　the　ladies　signed　a　petition　begging　him　to　stay　here。　Of　course；　the　town　couldn’t　do　without　you。”
　There；　there；　Mrs。　Meade；”　said　the　doctor；　basking　obviously　in　the　praise。　“Perhaps　with　one　boy　at　the　front；　that’s　enough　for　the　time　being。”
　“And　I’m　going　next　year！”　cried　little　Phil　hopping　about　excitedly。　“As　a　drummer　boy。　I’m　learning　how　to　drum　now。　Do　you　want　to　hear　me？　I’ll　run　get　my　drum。”
　“No；　not　now；”　said　Mrs。　Meade；　drawing　him　closer　to　her；　a　sudden　look　of　strain　coming　over　her　face。　“Not　next　year；　darling。　Maybe　the　year　after。”
　“But　the　war　will　be　over　then！”　he　cried　petulantly；　pulling　away　from　her。　“And　you　promised！”
　Over　his　head　the　eyes　of　the　parents　met　and　Scarlett　saw　the　look。　Darcy　Meade　was　in　Virginia　and　they　were　clinging　closer　to　the　little　boy　that　was　left。
　Uncle　Peter　cleared　his　throat。
　“Miss　Pitty　were　in　a　state　when　Ah　lef’　home　an’　ef　Ah　doan　git　dar　soon；　she’ll　done　swooned。”
　“Good…by。　I’ll　be　over　this　afternoon；”　called　Mrs。　Meade。　“And　you　tell　Pitty　for　me　that　if　you　aren’t　on　my　committee；　she’s　going　to　be　in　a　worse　state。”
　The　carriage　slipped　and　slid　down　the　muddy　road　and　Scarlett　leaned　back　on　the　cushions　and　smiled。　She　felt　better　now　than　she　had　felt　in　months。　Atlanta；　with　its　crowds　and　its　hurry　and　its　undercurrent　of　driving　excitement；　was　very　pleasant；　very　exhilarating；　so　very　much　nicer　than　the　lonely　plantation　out　from　Charleston；　where　the　bellow　of　alligators　broke　the　night　stillness；　better　than　Charleston　itself；　dreaming　in　its　gardens　behind　its　high　walls；　better　than　Savannah　with　its　wide　streets　lined　with　palmetto　and　the　muddy　river　beside　it。　Yes；　and　temporarily　even　better　than　Tara；　dear　though　Tara　was。
　There　was　something　exciting　about　this　town　with　its　narrow　muddy　streets；　lying　among　rolling　red　hills；　something　raw　and　crude　that　appealed　to　the　rawness　and　crudeness　underlying　the　fine　veneer　that　Ellen　and　Mammy　had　given　her。　She　suddenly　felt　that　this　was　where　she　belonged；　not　in　serene　and　quiet　old　cities；　flat　beside　yellow　waters。
　The　houses　were　farther　and　farther　apart　now；　and　leaning　out　Scarlett　saw　the　red　brick　and　slate　roof　of　Miss　Pittypat’s　house。　It　was　almost　the　last　house　on　the　north　side　of　town。　Beyond　it；　Peachtree　road　narrowed　and　twisted　under　great　trees　out　of　sight　into　thick　quiet　woods。　The　neat　wooden…paneled　fence　had　been　newly　painted　white　and　the　front　yard　it　enclosed　was　yellow　starred　with　the　last　jonquils　of　the　season。　On　the　front　steps　stood　two　women　in　black　and　behind　them　a　large　yellow　woman　with　her　hands　under　her　apron　and　her　white　teeth　showing　in　a　wide　smile。　Plump　Miss　Pittypat　was　teetering　excitedly　on　tiny　feet；　one　hand　pressed　to　her　copious　bosom　to　still　her　fluttering　heart。　Scarlett　saw　Melanie　standing　by　her　and；　with　a　surge　of　dislike；　she　realized　that　the　fly　in　the　ointment　of　Atlanta　would　be　this　slight　little　person　in　black　mourning　dress；　her　riotous　dark　curls　subdued　to　matronly　smoothness　and　a　loving　smile　of　welcome　and　happiness　on　her　heart…shaped　face。
　
　When　a　Southerner　took　the　trouble　to　pack　a　trunk　and　travel　twenty　miles　for　a　visit；　the　visit　was　seldom　of　shorter　duration　than　a　month；　usually　much　longer。　Southerners　were　as　enthusiastic　visitors　as　they　were　hosts；　and　there　was　nothing　unusual　in　relatives　coming　to　spend　the　Christmas　holidays　and　remaining　until　July。　Often　when　newly　married　couples　went　on　the　usual　round　of　honeymoon　visits；　they　lingered　in　some　pleasant　home　until　the　birth　of　their　second　child。　Frequently　elderly　aunts　and　uncles　came　to　Sunday　dinner　and　remained　until　they　were　buried　years　later。　Visitors　presented　no　problem；　for　houses　were　large；　servants　numerous　and　the　feeding　of　several　extra　mouths　a　minor　matter　in　that　land　of　plenty。　All　ages　and　sexes　went　visiting；　honeymooners；　young　mothers　showing　off　new　babies；　convalescents；　the　bereaved；　girls　whose　parents　were　anxious　to　remove　them　from　the　dangers　of　unwise　matches；　girls　who　had　reached　the　danger　age　without　becoming　engaged　and　who；　it　was　hoped；　would　make　suitable　matches　under　the　guidance　of　relatives　in　other　places。　Visitors　added　excitement　and　variety　to　the　slow…moving　Southern　life　and　they　were　always　welcome。
　So　Scarlett　had　come　to　Atlanta　with　no　idea　as　to　how　long　she　would　remain。　If　her　visit　proved　as　dull　as　those　in　Savannah　and　Charleston；　she　would　return　home　in　a　month。　If　her　stay　was　pleasant；　she　would　remain　indefinitely。　But　no　sooner　had　she　arrived　than　Aunt　Pitty　and　Melanie　began　a　campaign　to　induce　her　to　make　her　home　permanently　with　them。　They　brought　up　every　possible　argument。　They　wanted　her　for　her　own　self　because　they　loved　her。　They　were　lonely　and　often　frightened　at　night　in　the　big　house；　and　she　was　so　brave　she　gave　them　courage。　She　was　so　charming　that　she　cheered　them　in　their　sorrow。　Now　that　Charles　was　dead；　her　place　and　her　son’s　place　were　with　his　kindred。　Besides；　half　the　house　now　belonged　to　her；　through　Charles’　will。　Last；　the　Confederacy　needed　every　pair　of　hands　for　sewing；　knitting；　bandage　rolling　and　nursing　the　wounded。
　Charles’　Uncle　Henry　Hamilton；　who　lived　in　bachelor　state　at　the　Atlanta　Hotel　near　the　depot；　also　talked　seriously　to　her　on　this　subject。　Uncle　Henry　was　a　short；　pot…bellied；　irascible　old　gentleman　with　a　pink　face；　a　shock　of　long　silver　hair　and　an　utter　lack　of　patience　with　feminine　timidities　and　vaporings。　It　was　for　the　latter　reason　that　he　was　barely　on　speaking　terms　with　his　sister；　Miss　Pittypat　From　childhood；　they　had　been　exact　opposites　in　temperament　and　they　had　been　further　estranged　by　his　objections　to　the　manner　in　which　she　had　reared　Charles—”Making　a　damn　sissy　out　of　a　soldier’s　son！”　Years　before；　he　had　so　insulted　her　that　now　Miss　Pitty　never　spoke　of　him　except　in　guarded　whispers　and　with　so　great　reticence　that　a　stranger　would　have　thought　the　honest　old　lawyer　a　murderer；　at　the　least。　The　insult　had　occurred　on　a　day　when　Pitty　wished　to　draw　five　hundred　dollars　from　her　estate；　of　which　he　was　trustee；　to　invest　in　a　non…exis