CHAPTER 10

Summary 

Scarlett faces the repercussions of her night of dancing. Although Aunt Pittypat thinks her behavior utterly scandalous, Melanie, to Scarlett’s chagrin, defends her and says that perhaps they have been selfish in their grief and ought to begin getting out more.

A little slave boy brings Melanie a package, which Pittypat at first interprets as a note that Ashley is dead. Instead it is Melanie’s wedding ring, redeemed for ten times its value by Rhett Butler and returned to her with a note complimenting her for her courage. The gesture wins Melanie’s heart and convinces her that Rhett is a gentleman after all and must be invited to Sunday dinner. Scarlett thinks that an invitation to dinner was his primary motive for redeeming the ring.

Scarlett receives a severe letter from her mother followed by a visit from her father who is supposed to return with her to Tara. He intends to have a talk with Butler first, and ends up getting drunk and gambling away $500. Butler brings him home and helps Scarlett get him into the house and onto a settee in the parlor. The next morning, she taunts her father with his "disgraceful behavior" and promises not to tell her mother about it if he will leave her in Atlanta and tell Ellen that the stories of Scarlett’s behavior were nothing but the gossip of a couple of old biddies. 

CHAPTER 9

Summary 

Atlanta holds a bizarre/picnic as a means of raising money for the hospitals. Scarlett mopes for half the day because as a widow of barely a year, it isn’t considered proper for her to attend gala events. However, her hopes are revived when Mrs. Merriwether and Mrs. Elsing come by looking for help to manage the McClure booth as the McClure girls have had to go to Virginia to fetch their wounded brother, and the Bonnell children have measles, which eliminates their mother. Miss Pittypat and Melanie decline, but Scarlett speaks up, saying they ought to help the cause of the hospital, and anyway, Charles would want it that way. Everyone is shocked, but they all see the gesture as one of supreme sacrifice on Scarlett’s part.

Scarlett is sitting in her booth reveling in the music and dancing, in spite of the fact that she cannot participate in the dance, when Rhett Butler, known in the area as "Captain Butler" appears. He exchanges repartee with the two girls, his comments for Melanie kindly and gentlemanly, but his words and looks for Scarlett both sarcastic and laden with an undercurrent of secret knowledge. He taunts her about her marriage to Charles and about her "sacrifice" in appearing at the bizarre as he knows she never loved Charles in the first place. He promises, however, that her secret is safe with him.

During the evening festivities, Dr. Meade makes a speech, thanking Captain Butler for his courageous blockade running and asking for a sacrifice from all present. Rene Picard, a Louisiana Zouve and beau to Maybelle Merriwether carries around a basket for all to toss their jewelry and gold coins into. Scarlett tosses in her wedding ring, and in a moment of intense emotion, Melanie takes off hers also and tosses it into the basket. Rhett Butler notices the look of agony on Melanie’s face as she parts with Ashley’s ring as well as the defiance on Scarlett’s. Scarlett and Rhett argue again as she accuses him of being less than a gentleman and he challenges her for her true thoughts about the "cause." Rhett himself has been running Yankee blockades to bring supplies to the south, but he has been doing it for the money, not for belief in any cause, and he makes no secret of the fact.

The final event of the evening is a dance. Then gentlemen are asked to bid for the lady they would like as a partner. Rhett bids for Scarlett. Dr. Meade tries to refuse the offer, but Scarlett speaks up and says she will take the dance. She tosses public expectation along with her reputation to the wind and dances "for the cause." She and Rhett discuss the ongoing war briefly. Rhett expects the south to lose, but he intends to become a millionaire himself in the process. 

PART TWO CHAPTER 8

Summary 

Scarlett arrives in Atlanta and is met by Peter, Miss Pittypat’s slave who drives the carriage and does just about anything else Pittypat needs. She also meets Mrs. Merriwether and hears of Mrs. Meade and Mrs. Whiting. Mrs. Merriwether speaks of a hospital, but Scarlett has no idea what she is talking about. In the distance she spots Belle Watling, the town prostitute. Upon arriving at her aunt’s house, she is greeted by Dr. Meade and his wife and thirteen year old son, Phil.

In spite of her distaste for the idea, Scarlett has no choice but to assist in one of the hospitals with all the other women. Her spirits improve in spite of that duty. Her only real complaint is that the women treat her deferentially, out of regard for her widowhood. It is expected that she is still in mourning, but in reality, her heart is in Virginia with Ashley. 

CHAPTER 7

Summary 

Scarlett marries Charles and is a widow within two months. Trying to steal the show from Melanie, she sets her wedding for the day before that of Melanie and Ashley. On her wedding night, however, she refuses to allow Charles to sleep with her as that part of marriage had not occurred to her. She spends two weeks hoping for a word alone with Ashley, but without success. Ashley and Charles both leave to join the troops, and five weeks later Scarlett receives word that Charles has died of an illness. Before a year is out, Scarlett gives birth to Charles’ son, Wade Hampton Hamilton. Although she has an easy birth, she becomes despondent and ill which those around her attribute to her grief over the loss of Charles. Actually, it is boredom, confusion over her sudden motherhood and continued anguish over the absence of Ashley.

Finally the family decides to send her to Savannah to visit relatives, but she returns after only a month of absence. Then she receives a letter from Aunt Pittypat asking her to come and stay with them in Atlanta, as the two women are alone Scarlett decides to go in spite of a lack of affection for either Aunt Pittypat or Melanie. Any change from Tara and the memories associated with the neighborhood seems welcome.