Continuation of "Gone with the Wind"

Chapter 24 first meeting

The next day was Sunday, and after breakfast Lady Eleanor went to church.Scarlett didn’t have any religious beliefs, and she hated hypocritical religion from the bottom of her heart after the incident at the convent. When she was worried about what reason to escape, Mrs. Eleanor took the initiative to rescue her: “Scarlett, If it's convenient, I hope you can bring Jack here. I'm sorry to delay your church, but I want to see him sooner." "No mother, I'll go." Scarlett secretly thanked that she didn't have to go to church to listen to nonsense Yes, she glanced gratefully at Lady Eleanor.At this time Rhett had changed his clothes and was about to go out, but Eleanor stopped her son: "By the way, Rhett, you can go with Scarlett." Scarlett thought he would refuse, but she didn't expect him I happily agreed.Suspiciously, she grabbed Rhett's arm that was extended to her, watched him say goodbye to the others, and then dragged herself out the door with a stiff posture like a sack.

"I said don't walk so fast, I'm almost out of breath." Scarlett shouted at him dissatisfied, and her shoes were about to fall off.

"Forget it, Scarlett, don't look so weak. Hurry up, we have to get that kid back before mommy comes home." Rhett didn't look back, and quickened his pace.

Scarlett followed him angrily, in spite of her growing heartbeat.When she finally caught up, she said to Rhett dissatisfiedly: "I really don't understand why you don't buy her a carriage if you love your mother so much? Even if all the carriages in the city are now Yankees, then what's the matter?" How about it? Is it more comfortable to wear a pair of shoes to run on the street in winter than to sit in a carriage?"

"I really hope you say this a little louder so that all the people in Charleston can hear it. You won't be able to return to Atlanta by then." Reiter mockingly looked at her flushed face from the rush, But intentionally or unintentionally slowed down, "You don't know Charlestonians at all."

Just as Scarlett was about to argue with him, she suddenly remembered the oath she swore yesterday, and immediately suppressed the curse words that reached her throat, and turned her face away.Rhett looked at her strangely, with a hint of disappointment on his face, but it was a pity that Scarlett didn't pay attention.

On the way, they met two aunts and their servants rushing to church. Scarlett asked them how Jack was doing, and they happily said that he was completely healed, and they were guarding the door at home. Scarlett was relieved.It's not that she's worried about Jack's illness, but because she's afraid that if Jack is not cured, if it infects Ritter's family, it will be bad.

When she came to her aunt's house, Scarlett found that the door was closed tightly.She knocked on the door and no one opened it, so she had to use the key to open the door, and found that there was no one there, the room was clean and spotless, but the silence made her feel a little uneasy.She softly called Jack's name, no one answered, she raised the volume, but still only the silence of the room answered her.You can't say that, Rhett's voice cut in: "Where's that child? Isn't it missing?"

"Who knows, maybe he slept too soundly." Scarlett defended him, but she herself felt that this was not convincing. "Go upstairs and have a look." Although Rhett didn't bother to reveal her expression, he was more than happy. She went upstairs first. "Which is his room?" he asked.He didn't need Scarlett to tell him, because there was only one room with the door wide open.

Scarlett didn't go in to check, but immediately opened her door and rushed in, rummaging through the box to see if there was anything missing.Rhett stared closely at her movements, at first he was a little confused, but after seeing what she was doing, he immediately smiled mockingly.He took out a cigar contentedly, and when he was about to light it, he heard a calm voice asking Scarlett: "What are you looking for, Miss Scarlett, do you need help?" I saw a boy with a strong figure and an elegant and delicate face standing cautiously at the door, holding a cardboard box in his hand.The boy did not show curiosity or shyness like ordinary children because there was a stranger in the room. Instead, he smiled at him friendly and apologized.Rhett smiled back at him out of politeness, and was surprised that he had an intimacy with this child whom he met for the first time.

Scarlett stopped in embarrassment. She turned around and saw Jack still standing at the door. Although she was apologetic in her heart, she decided to preemptively strike: "You just got well. Where have you been? What if you get lost?" The tone is stern like a mother who scolds a disobedient child.But I was secretly glad that he didn't understand what he was doing.

"I'm sorry to worry you. I'm already well and I can't stay in the house all the time, so I want to go out. Miss Eulalie left me a key before she left. I didn't go far, and I didn't get lost. In fact, Charleston is not very big, and the people are enthusiastic, so it is difficult to get lost." He made a rare joke, which made Scarlett breathe a sigh of relief, but seeing the box in his hand, she was a little worried: " Just go out, why did you come back with a box? What’s in it, can’t it be candy?” She also wanted to play a joke with him to ease the atmosphere, but Jack was not very happy: “You guessed wrong , I seldom eat sugar. There are medicines in the box, which are used for curing diseases.”

"What kind of medicine? Isn't your illness cured? Why do you still need to take medicine?" Scarlett stared at him with wide eyes in surprise.

"This medicine is not for me, but for you." He said calmly.

"Me? Don't be kidding, I'm not sick." Scarlett retorted with a smile.

"No, you are sick. It's just that you thought you were cured and left it alone," he insisted.

"Okay, stop talking. You are the one who is sick. Where did I get sick?" Scarlett was a little annoyed by him.

"If my observations are correct, your body was indeed very healthy before, and you seldom got sick. But not long ago, you had a serious illness. I don't know if it wasn't a fever, but it should be right. Since then, the root cause of the disease has fallen. It’s just that you thought there was nothing wrong with it and ignored it. In fact, it has not recovered, and it is still lurking in your body, waiting for the right time to hurt you like an assassin. And you are too hardworking, you have to be busy every day You have a lot to do and little time to rest, which is not good for your recovery. And..."

"Okay, okay, thank you for your kindness." Scarlett waved her hand impatiently. She wondered how a child could know so much. In fact, this has always made her feel uneasy. "Did your family used to be a doctor? How do you know so much?"

"I grew up in a pharmacy since I was a child, but that was before I came to the United States. I don't remember it very clearly. Fortunately, I haven't forgotten everything I learned about seeing a doctor." When he said this, he suddenly realized something. Immediately shutting his mouth, the expression on his face trembled like water, and soon returned to normal.

Rhett has been listening to their conversation carefully, and even forgot to light a cigarette.At this moment he put away the cigarette and looked at Jack and smiled.Scarlett realized that she forgot to introduce, but Rhett was one step ahead of her.He took the initiative to extend his hand to Jack, and said to him, "Nice to meet you, Jack. I'm Scarlett's husband, Rhett Butler, and you can call me Rhett." Jack was a little reserved at this moment, He hurriedly grabbed his hand and said, "How can that be? I should call you Mr. Rhett." "It doesn't matter. If you want, you can call me Uncle." Rhett especially wanted to draw them closer Jack is willing to do the same.Scarlett wondered why Jack looked like an obedient and sensible child in front of others, but he behaved so un-a child in front of her. She still remembered the calm way he negotiated terms with her.Which one is his real look?She had never wanted to know someone so badly, not as a child.Maybe it's because he's a different kid from all other kids.That sense of familiarity hit her heart again, and this feeling no longer made her feel scared, but instead felt a kind of warmth.

Jack did not disappoint Scarlett, Rhett's family really liked him.Lady Eleanor had given him a puppy as a present, and he seemed to like it, and had a great time with it.Russ and Amy treated him like their own children, and the enthusiasm made him a little overwhelming.Janet was quick to say that the kid looked exactly like Rhett when he was a child, but he was much more likable than Rhett, and even Rhett admitted with a smile.Scarlett was moved and jealous when she saw the happy appearance of this family.Only between her and Jack was there always an invisible, intangible but clearly felt barrier like a wall. This feeling appeared almost at the same time as her intimacy with Jack, and it continued to increase as the intimacy increased. She didn't know what was going on.

At night Scarlett was dragged upstairs by Rhett with a playful smile like yesterday, she was used to it, waiting for him to go out after everyone was asleep.But after waiting for an unknown amount of time, she heard that even the servants had fallen asleep, and all the lights except their rooms had been extinguished, but Rhett still frowned, smoking one after another.Scarlett's heart couldn't help but flustered, and at the same time, there was a glimmer of hope: Isn't this what she has been looking forward to?Rhett was still in her room at this late hour, what was he going to do?She thought of that crazy night in Atlanta, when Rhett dragged her into the bewildered tender land like a desperate god of death, she surrendered to him involuntarily, and experienced the ultimate carefreeness and joy for the first time It feels like she is still unforgettable.This blatant thought made her face flush with charming redness, and she quickly lowered her head, for fear that Rhett would find out her abnormality.After waiting for a while, when the fire-like desire gradually calmed down, she dared to raise her head again and look at Rhett.

Strange, why is his expression so strange?Her dark face was as calm as a windless lake, and she could hardly find anything that could be called an expression.Seeing her looking at him, Rhett's expression finally showed a ripple-like change, as if Scarlett's eyes were two stones thrown into a lake.Scarlett looked into his face silently, and a disturbed thought came to her again, which showed plainly in her eyes.Rhett finally spoke, with his usual mocking expression, and Scarlett felt a wave of despair.It's coming again, it's definitely not a good thing, she's too self-indulgent.

"Honey, do you know how touching your expression was just now? It's as bright and radiant as a goddess covered in ten thousand rays of light. If I don't know your details, I'm afraid I'll really look like a fool." Fortunately, I am not a fool. Speaking of this, I also want to thank you for your selflessness and frankness." He stubbed out the cigar, and his movements were ruthless and violent, as if he had slapped Scarlett. A slap in the face.

"I don't know why you stay in my room so late. If you're just here to insult me, then you've made a mistake." Scarlett said so much, in fact, she had a lot to say to Rui Special, but I remembered the oath I made yesterday, but I didn't say it.She'd hurt him enough before, she couldn't do that again, or Rhett would just get further away from her.But she can't let him insult her, she must maintain her dignity, this is her bottom line.

"I'm clearly complimenting you, since you don't appreciate it." Rhett's voice was still so strange that she wanted to curse, "I'm not staying in your room, you can drive me away at any time. But since you didn't do that , I won’t say anything more, it’s good for everyone to save face for each other. I’m here to tell you two things, one about Jack and one about your business. I believe that after hearing these two things , you can't wait to get out of Charleston."