She remembered the feel of plow handles between her inexperienced, blistered palms and she felt that Hugh Elsing was deserving of no special sympathy.
What an innocent old fool Pitty was and, despite the ruin all around her, how sheltered!
"If he doesn't like peddling, why doesn't he practice law?
Or isn't there any law practice left in Atlanta?"
"Oh dear, yes!
There's plenty of law practice.
Practically everybody is suing everybody else these days.
With everything burned down and boundary lines wiped out, no one knows just where their land begins or ends.
But you can't get any pay for suing because nobody has any money.
So Hugh sticks to his peddling. . . . Oh, I almost forgot!
Did I write you?
Fanny Elsing is getting married tomorrow night and, of course, you must attend.
Mrs. Elsing will be only too pleased to have you when she knows you're in town.
I do hope you have some other frock besides that one.
Not that it isn't a very sweet frock, darling, but--well, it does look a bit worn.
Oh, you have a pretty frock?
I'm so glad because it's going to be the first real wedding we've had in Atlanta since before the town fell.
Cake and wine and dancing afterward, though I don't know how the Elsings can afford it, they are so poor."
"Who is Fanny marrying?
I thought after Dallas McLure was killed at Gettysburg--"
"Darling, you mustn't criticize Fanny.
Everybody isn't as loyal to the dead as you are to poor Charlie.
Let me see. What is his name?
I can never remember names--Tom somebody.
I knew his mother well, we went to LaGrange Female Institute together.
She was a Tomlinson from LaGrange and her mother was--let me see. . . . Perkins?
Parkins?
Parkinson!
That's it.
From Sparta.
A very good family but just the same--well, I know I shouldn't say it but I don't see how Fanny can bring herself to marry him!"
"Does he drink or--"
"Dear, no!
His character is perfect but, you see, he was wounded low down, by a bursting shell and it did something to his legs-- makes them--makes them, well, I hate to use the word but it makes him spraddle.
It gives him a very vulgar appearance when he walks-- well, it doesn't look very pretty.
I don't see why she's marrying him."
"Girls have to marry someone."
"Indeed, they do not," said Pitty, ruffling.
"I never had to."
"Now, darling, I didn't mean you!
Everybody knows how popular you were and still are!
Why, old Judge Canton used to throw sheep's eyes at you till I--"
"Oh, Scarlett, hush!
That old fool!" giggled Pitty, good humor restored.
"But, after all, Fanny was so popular she could have made a better match and I don't believe she loves this Tom what's- his-name.
I don't believe she's ever gotten over Dallas McLure getting killed, but she's not like you, darling.
You've remained so faithful to dear Charlie, though you could have married dozens of times.
Melly and I have often said how loyal you were to his memory when everyone else said you were just a heartless coquette."
Scarlett passed over this tactless confidence and skillfully led Pitty from one friend to another but all the while she was in a fever of impatience to bring the conversation around to Rhett.
It would never do for her to ask outright about him, so soon after arriving.