CHAPTER 2

Summary

Scarlett allows herself to react to the Tarleton twins’ news. She is unable to believe that Ashley could be marrying Melanie as she has had a crush on him herself for years.

We meet Mammy, the black woman who had been mammy to Scarlett’s mother Ellen and has led a life devoted to the O’Hara family. She oversees all the household servants and watches over the health and behavior of the O’Hara girls. Scarlett takes advantage of a moment when Mammy goes after a shawl for her to run down the long mansion drive where she can meet her father. He had been at the Wilkes making deals for another slave, and Scarlett thinks she can get him to talk about the supposed engagement without being suspicious of her motives.

Scarlett waits at the fence, musing on the blond Ashley whom she wants even though she must admit that she doesn’t understand him. Finally her father comes racing through the fields, recklessly jumping a fence, an action he knows his wife would not approve of. Scarlett deliberately laughs to let him know she has seen him. She will not tell on him, however, as the two of them have quite a few mutual secrets involving behavior that would be considered inappropriate for either a gentleman or a lady. Gerald O’Hara tells his daughter of the slave he has bought. He has purchased Dilcey and her daughter Prissy from John Wilkes. He intends to give Prissy to Scarlett.

When Scarlett asks after Ashley, Gerald confirms the news that Ashley is about to marry Melanie Hamilton. Scarlett pretends she is not really interested, but Gerald sees through her and scolds her for wanting someone whose interests are in books, poetry, music and paintings, topics that do not interest Scarlett at all. Gerald tries to console her by telling her that she will have Tara one day, but she is feeling sorry for herself and says that land doesn’t amount to anything. Gerald is momentarily angry with her, but he drops the issue. They arrive at home in time to see Ellen on her way out. She has received a call from the Slatterys, a "white trash" family near by who have a new, and dying, baby. Mammy objects to Ellen going to take care of the "white trash," but she cannot stop her.