Will was talking common sense instead of a lot of tootle about reunions in another and better world and submitting her will to God's.
And Scarlett had always found strength and comfort in common sense.
"And I don't want none of you to think the less of him for breakin' like he done.
All you all and me, too, are like him.
We got the same weakness and failin'.
There ain't nothin' that walks can lick us, any more than it could lick him, not Yankees nor Carpetbaggers nor hard times nor high taxes nor even downright starvation.
But that weakness that's in our hearts can lick us in the time it takes to bat your eye.
It ain't always losin' someone you love that does it, like it done Mr. O'Hara.
Everybody's mainspring is different.
And I want to say this--folks whose main-springs are busted are better dead.
There ain't no place for them in the world these days, and they're happier bein' dead. . . .
That's why I'm sayin' you all ain't got no cause to grieve for Mr. O'Hara now.
The time to grieve was back when Sherman come through and he lost Mrs. O'Hara.
Now that his body's gone to join his heart, I don't see that we got reason to mourn, unless we're pretty damned selfish, and I'm sayin' it who loved him like he was my own pa. . . . There won't be no more words said, if you folks don't mind.
The family is too cut up to listen and it wouldn't be no kindness to them."
Will stopped and, turning to Mrs. Tarleton, he said in a lower voice:
"I wonder couldn't you take Scarlett in the house, Ma'm? It ain't right for her to be standin' in the sun so long.
And Grandma Fontaine don't look any too peart neither, meanin' no disrespect."
Startled at the abrupt switching from the eulogy to herself, Scarlett went red with embarrassment as all eyes turned toward her.
Why should Will advertise her already obvious pregnancy?
She gave him a shamed indignant look, but Will's placid gaze bore her down.
"Please," his look said.
"I know what I'm doin'."
Already he was the man of the house and, not wishing to make a scene, Scarlett turned helplessly to Mrs. Tarleton.
That lady, suddenly diverted, as Will had intended, from thoughts of Suellen to the always fascinating matter of breeding, be it animal or human, took Scarlett's arm.
"Come in the house, honey."
Her face took on a look of kind, absorbed interest and Scarlett suffered herself to be led through the crowd that gave way and made a narrow path for her.
There was a sympathetic murmuring as she passed and several hands went out to pat her comfortingly.
When she came abreast Grandma Fontaine, the old lady put out a skinny claw and said:
"Give me your arm, child," and added with a fierce glance at Sally and Young Miss: "No, don't you come. I don't want you."
They passed slowly through the crowd which closed behind them and went up the shady path toward the house, Mrs. Tarleton's eager helping hand so strong under Scarlett's elbow that she was almost lifted from the ground at each step.
"Now, why did Will do that?" cried Scarlett heatedly, when they were out of earshot.
"He practically said:
'Look at her!
She's going to have a baby!'"
"Well, sake's alive, you are, aren't you?" said Mrs. Tarleton.
"Will did right.
It was foolish of you to stand in the hot sun when you might have fainted and had a miscarriage."
"Will wasn't bothered about her miscarrying," said Grandma, a little breathless as she labored across the front yard toward the steps.
There was a grim, knowing smile on her face.
"Will's smart.
He didn't want either you or me, Beetrice, at the graveside.
He was scared of what we'd say and he knew this was the only way to get rid of us. . . .
And it was more than that. He didn't want Scarlett to hear the clods dropping on the coffin.
And he's right.
Just remember, Scarlett, as long as you don't hear that sound, folks aren't actually dead to you.
But once you hear it . . . Well, it's the most dreadfully final sound in the world. . . . Help me up the steps, child, and give me a hand, Beetrice.
Scarlett don't any more need your arm than she needs crutches and I'm not so peart, as Will observed. . . . Will knew you were your father's pet and he didn't want to make it worse for you than it already was.
He figured it wouldn't be so bad for your sisters.
Suellen has her shame to sustain her and Carreen her God.