@@@@@I took you outside especially to see them,
@@@@@I took
you outside especially to see them, and you cried so loud that I nearly
died of shameAll the other children there were clapping their hands
and shrieking with joyOf course, they were olderYou were still in
dresses, barely over a year old Scarlett stared at MrsButler,
then at RhettIt wasn't possible! Rhett couldn't be older than her
mother
Why, her mother was-her motherShe'd always taken it for granted
that
her mother was old, past the age of strong emotionsHow could Rhett
be
older? How could she love him so desperately if he was that old?
Then
Rhett added shock upon shock
He dropped his napkin on the table, stood, stepped to Scarlett's side
and kissed the top of her head, moved on to take his mother's hand in
his and kiss it"I'm off now, Mama," he saidOh Rhett, no!
Scarlett wanted to shoutBut she was too stunned to say anything,
even to ask where he was going"I wish you wouldn't go out in the
rainy pitch dark, Rhett," his mother protested"And Scarlett's here
You've barely had a chance to say hello to her
"It's stopped raining, and the full moon's out," Rhett said"I can't
waste the chance to ride the tide upriver, and I've just enough time to
catch it before it turnsScarlett understands that you've got to
check up on your workers if you go away and leave them-she's a
businesswomanAren't you, my pet?" His eyes glittered from the
candle flame reflected in them when he looked at herThen he walked
into the hallShe pushed back from the table, almost upending her
chair in her hasteThen, without a word to MrsButler, she ran
frantically after hi