Sunday, May 2, 2010 - Eleanor soothed Scarlett with gentle words
and...
Eleanor soothed Scarlett with gentle words
and fragrant tea, flattered Pauline by asking her opinion of the desk
recently installed in the drawing room, diverted Eulalie with a plea to
taste the pound cake and judge if the extract of vanilla bean was
strong enoughShe also murmured to Manigo, her manservant, that
her
maid Celie would help him and Scarlett's maid transfer Scarlett's
things from her aunts' house to the big bedroom overlooking the
garden
where MrIn under ten minutes, everything had been
accomplished to move Scarlett without opposition, or injured feelings,
or interruption to the even rhythm of the tranquil life under Eleanor
Butler's roofScarlett felt like a girl again, safe from all harm,
sheltered by a mother's all-powerful loveShe gazed at Eleanor
through misted, admiring eyesThis was what she wanted to be, had
always meant to be, a lady like her mother, like Eleanor fake louis vuitton purses Butler
Ellen O 'Hara had instructed her to be a lady, had planned for it and
wanted itI can do it now, Scarlett told herselfI can make up for
all the mistakes I madeI can make Mother proud of meWhen she
was
a child, Mammy had described heaven to her as a land of clouds like
big
feather mattresses where angels rested, amusing themselves by
looking
down at the goings-on below through cracks in the skyEver since her
mother died, Scarlett had had an uncomfortable childish conviction
that
Ellen was watching her with unhappy concernI'll make it all better
now, she promised her motherEleanor's affectionate welcome had,
for
the moment, erased all the fears and memories that filled her heart
and
mind when she saw the Yankee soldiersIt had even wiped out
Scarlett's unacknowledged anxiety about her decision to follow Rhett
to
CharlestonShe felt safe and loved and invincibleShe could chanel flap bag lambskin do
anything, everythingShe would win Rhett's love
again
She would be the lady Ellen always meant for her to beShe would be
admired and respected and adored by everyoneAnd she would
never,
ever, be lonely againWhen Pauline closed the last tiny, ivory-inlaid
drawer of the rosewood desk and Eulalie hurriedly swallowed the last
slice of cake, Eleanor Butler stood, pulling Scarlett up with her"I
have to pick up my boots from the cobbler this morning," she said, "so
I'll take Scarlett along and introduce her to King StreetNo woman
can possibly feel at home until she knows where the shops areWill
youall join us?" To Scarlett's immense relief, her aunts declinedButler all to herselfThe walk to Charleston's shops
was pure pleasure in the warm bright winter sunlightKing Street was
a revelation and a delightStores lined it for block after block; dry
goods, hardware, boots, tobacco and cigars, hats, jewelry, chanel classic jumbo flap bag china,
seeds, medicines, wines, books, gloves, candies-it seemed that
everything and anything could be bought on King StreetThere were
crowds of shoppers, too, and dozens of smart buggies and open
carriages, with liveried drivers and fashionably dressed occupants
Charleston was nowhere near as dreary as she had remembered it and
feared it to beIt was much bigger and busier than AtlantaAnd no
sign of the Panic at allUnfortunately, Rhett's mother behaved as if
none of the color and excitement and busyness existedShe walked
past
windows full of ostrich plumes and painted fans without looking at
them, crossed the street without so much as a thank you to the
women in
the buggy that had stopped to avoid hitting her
Scarlett remembered what her aunts had told her: there wasn't a
carriage to he had in Charleston except those owned by Yankees,
carpetbaggers and scallywagsShe felt a rush of cartier replica watches white-hot rage at the
vultures that were fattening on the defeated SouthWhen she
followed
MrsButler into one of the boot shops it did her heart good to see
the proprietor turn over his richly dressed customer to a young
assistant so that he could hurry forward to Rhett's mother
It was a pleasure to be with a member of the Old Guard in Charleston
She wished fervently that MrsElsing were there
to see her"I left some boots to be resoled, MrBraxton," Eleanor
said, "and I also want my daughter-in-law to know where to come for
the
finest footwear and the most agreeable service
Braxton will take the same good care of you that he has of me for all
these years
"It will be my privilege, ma'amBraxton bowed elegantlyBraxton, and I thank you," Scarlett replied, with great
refinement
"I believe I'll get a pair of boots today myself She raised her
skirt a few inches to display her fragile, thin leather omega seamaster titanium watch shoe
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