@@@@@She was doing full justice to dinner when
@@@@@She was doing full justice to
dinner when Manigo came in and spoke quietly to Rhett"Excuse me,"
Rhett said, "it seems we've got a Yankee officer at the door
"What do you suppose they're up to now?" Scarlett wondered aloud
26'
Rhett was laughing when he returned a moment later"Everything but
a
white flag of surrender," he saidThey're
inviting all the men to come to the Guardhouse and take back the
guns
they confiscated Rosemary applauded loudlyMiss Eleanor shushed
her
"We can't take too much creditThey can't risk all these unprotected
houses on Emancipation Day She went on to answer Scarlett's
questioning expression"New Year's Day isn't what it used to be, a
quiet time to nurse headaches from too much New Year's Eve
Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on a January first, so
now
it's the major day of celebration for all the former slavesThey take
over the park down at the end of the Battery and shoot off firecrackers
and pistols all day and all night while they get drunker and drunker
We lock up, of course, including all the shutters, just the way we do
for a hurricane
But it helps to have an armed man in the house, too
"There aren't any guns in the house
"There will be," said RhettThey're coming from the
Landing just for the occasion
"And when will you be going?" Eleanor asked RhettI have an appointment with Julia Ashley on the
thirty-firstWe need to plan our united-front strategy Rhett was
leaving! Going to hiswretched, smelly old plantation! He wouldn't be
here to kiss her on New Year's EveNow Scarlett was sure she was
going to cry"I'm going to the Landing with you," said Rosema