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s going to have to fight if she wished to keep it hereafter。 She looked at him again and wondered where the hot flood of feeling had gone。 She could think but could not feel； not about him nor Tara either； for she was drained of all emotion。
“You need not go；” she said clearly。 “I won’t have you all starve； simply because I’ve thrown myself at your head。 It will never happen again。”
She turned away and started back toward the house across the rough fields； twisting her hair into a knot upon her neck。 Ashley watched her go and saw her square her small thin shoulders as she went。 And that gesture went to his heart； more than any words she had spoken。
CHAPTER XXXII
SHE WAS STILL CLUTCHING the ball of red clay when she went up the front steps。 She had carefully avoided the back entrance； for Mammy’s sharp eyes would certainly have seen that something was greatly amiss。 Scarlett did not want to see Mammy or anyone else。 She did not feel that she could endure seeing anyone or talking to anyone again。 She had no feeling of shame or disappointment or bitterness now； only a weakness of the knees and a great emptiness of heart。 She squeezed the clay so tightly it ran out from her clenched fist and she said over and over； parrot…like： “I’ve still got this。 Yes； I’ve still got this。”
There was nothing else she did have； nothing but this red land； this land she had been willing to throw away like a torn handkerchief only a few minutes before； Now； it was dear to her again and she wondered dully what madness had possessed her to hold it so lightly。 Had Ashley yielded； she could have gone away with him and left family and friends without a backward look but； even in her emptiness； she knew it would have torn her heart to leave these dear red hills and long washed gullies and gaunt black pines。 Her thoughts would have turned back to them hungrily until the day she died。 Not even Ashley could have filled the empty spaces in her heart where Tara。 had been uprooted。 How wise Ashley was and how well he knew her！ He had only to press the damp earth into her hand to bring her to her senses。
She was in the hall preparing to close the door when she heard the sound of horse’s hooves and turned to look down the driveway。 To have visitors at this of all times was too much。 She’d hurry to her room and plead a headache。
But when the carriage came nearer； her flight was checked by her amazement。 It was a new carriage； shiny with varnish； and “the harness was new too； with bits of polished brass here and there。 Strangers； certainly。 No one she knew had the money for such a grand new turn…out as this。
She stood in the doorway watching； the cold draft blowing her skirts about her damp ankles。 Then the carriage stopped in front of the house and Jonas Wilkerson alighted。 Scarlett was so surprised at the sight of their former overseer driving so fine a rig and in so splendid a greatcoat she could not for a moment believe her eyes。 Will had told her he looked quite prosperous since he got his new job with the Freedmen’s Bureau。 Made a lot of money； Will said； swindling the niggers or the government； one or tuther； or confiscating folks’ cotton and swearing it was Confederate government cotton。 Certainly he never came by all that money honestly in these hard times。
And here he was now； stepping out of an elegant carriage and handing down a woman dressed within an inch of her life。 Scarlett saw in a glance that the dress was bright in color to the point of vulgarity but nevertheless her eyes went over the outfit hungrily。 It had been so long since she had even seen stylish new clothes。 Well！ So hoops aren’t so wide this year； she thought； scanning the red plaid gown。 And； as she took in the black velvet paletot； how short jackets are！ And what a cunning hat！ Bonnets must be out of style； for this hat was only an absurd flat red velvet affair； perched on the top of the woman’s head like a stiffened pancake。 The ribbons did not tie under the chin as bonnet ribbons tied but in the back under the massive bunch of curls which fell from the rear of the hat； curls which Scarlett could not help noticing did not match the woman’s hair in either color or texture。
As the woman stepped to the ground and looked toward the house； Scarlett saw there was something familiar about the rabbity face； caked with white powder。
“Why； it’s Emmie Slattery！” she cried； so surprised she spoke the words aloud。
“Yes’m； it’s me；” said Emmie； tossing her head with an ingratiating smile and starting toward the steps。
Emmie Slattery！ The dirty tow…headed slut whose illegitimate baby Ellen had baptized； Emmie who had given typhoid to Ellen and killed her。 This overdressed； common； nasty piece of poor white trash was coming up the steps of Tara； bridling and grinning as if she belonged here。 Scarlett thought of Ellen and； in a rush； feeling came back into the emptiness of her mind； a murderous rage so strong it shook her like the ague。
“Get off those steps； you trashy wench！” she cried。 “Get off this land！ Get out！”
Emmie’s jaw sagged suddenly and she glanced at Jonas who came up with lowering brows。 He made an effort at dignity； despite his anger。
“You must not speak that way to my wife；” he said。
“Wife？” said Scarlett and burst into a laugh that was cutting with contempt。 “High time you made her your wife。 Who baptized your other brats after you killed my mother？”
Emmie said “Oh！” and retreated hastily down the steps but Jonas stopped her flight toward the carriage with a rough grip on her arm。
“We came out here to pay a call—a friendly call；” he snarled。 “And talk a little business with old friends—”
“Friends？” Scarlett’s voice was like a whiplash。 “When were we ever friends with the like of you？ The Slatterys lived on our charity and paid it back by killing Mother—and you—you— Pa discharged you about Emmie’s brat and you know it。 Friends？ Get off this place before I call Mr。 Benteen and Mr。 Wilkes。”
Under the words； Emmie broke her husband’s hold and fled for the carriage； scrambling in with a flash of patent…leather boots with bright…red tops and red tassels。
Now Jonas shook with a fury equal to Scarlett’s and his sallow face was as red as an angry turkey gobbler’s。
“Still high and mighty； aren’t you？ Well； I know all about you。 I know you haven’t got shoes for your feet。 I know your father’s turned idiot—”
“Get off this place！”
“Oh； you won’t sing that way very long。 I know you’re broke。 I know you can’t even pay your taxes。 I came out here to offer to buy this place from you—to make you a right good offer。 Emmie had a hankering to live here。 But； by God； I won’t give you a cent now！ You highflying； bog…trotting Irish will find out who’s running things around here when you get sold out for taxes。 And I’ll buy this place； lock； stock and barrel—furniture and all—and I’ll live in it。”
So it was Jonas Wilkerson who wanted Tara—Jonas and Emmie； who in some twisted way thought to even past slights by living in the home where they had been slighted。 All her nerves hummed with hate； as they had hummed that day when she shoved the pistol barrel into the Yankee’s bearded face and fired。 She wished she had that pistol now。
“I’ll tear this house down； stone by stone； and burn it and sow every acre with salt before I see either of you put foot over this threshold；” she shouted。 “Get out； I tell you！ Get out！”
Jonas glared at her； started to say more and then walked toward the carriage。 He climbed in beside his whimpering wife and turned the horse。 As they drove off； Scarlett had the impulse to spit at them。 She did spit。 She knew it was a common； childish gesture but it made her feel better。 She wished she had done it while they could see her。
Those damned nigger lovers daring to come here and taunt her about her poverty！ That hound never intended offering her a price for Tara。 He just used that as an excuse to come and flaunt himself and Emmie in her face。 The dirty Scalawags； the lousy trashy poor whites； boasting they would live at Tara！
Then； sudden terror struck her and her rage melted。 God’s nightgown！ They will come and live here！