"Miss Scarlet isn't--"
"Miss Scarlett bearin' up, same as allus," said Mammy heavily.
"Ah din' ten ter 'sturb yo' supper, Miss Melly.
Ah kin wait tell you thoo ter tell you whut Ah got on mah mine."
"Supper can wait," said Melanie.
"Dilcey, serve the rest of the supper.
Mammy, come with me."
Mammy waddled after her, down the hall past the dining room where Ashley sat at the head of the table, his own little Beau beside him and Scarlett's two children opposite, making a great clatter with their soup spoons.
The happy voices of Wade and Ella filled the room. It was like a picnic for them to spend so long a visit with Aunt Melly.
Aunt Melly was always so kind and she was especially so now.
The death of their younger sister had affected them very little.
Bonnie had fallen off her pony and Mother had cried a long time and Aunt Melly had taken them home with her to play in the back yard with Beau and have tea cakes whenever they wanted them.
Melanie led the way to the small book-lined sitting room, shut the door and motioned Mammy to the sofa.
"I was going over right after supper," she said.
"Now that Captain Butler's mother has come, I suppose the funeral will be tomorrow morning."
"De fune'l.
Dat's jes' it," said Mammy.
"Miss Melly, we's all in deep trouble an' Ah's come ter you fer he'p.
Ain' nuthin' but weery load, honey, nuthin' but weery load."
"Has Miss Scarlett collapsed?" questioned Melanie worriedly.
"I've hardly seen her since Bonnie-- She has been in her room and Captain Butler has been out of the house and--"
Suddenly tears began to flow down Mammy's black face.
Melanie sat down beside her and patted her arm and, after a moment, Mammy lifted the hem of her black skirt and dried her eyes.
"You got ter come he'p us, Miss Melly.
Ah done de bes' Ah kin but it doan do no good."
"Miss Scarlett--"
Mammy straightened.
"Miss Melly, you knows Miss Scarlett well's Ah does.
Whut dat chile got ter stan', de good Lawd give her strent ter stan'. Disyere done broke her heart but she kin stan' it.
It's Mist' Rhett Ah come 'bout."
"I have so wanted to see him but whenever I've been there, he has either been downtown or locked in his room with-- And Scarlett has looked like a ghost and wouldn't speak-- Tell me quickly, Mammy.
You know I'll help if I can."
Mammy wiped her nose on the back of her hand.
"Ah say Miss Scarlett kin stan' whut de Lawd sen', kase she done had ter stan' a-plen'y, but Mist' Rhett--Miss Melly, he ain' never had ter stan' nuthin' he din' wanter stan', not nuthin'.
It's him Ah come ter see you 'bout."
"But--"
"Miss Melly, you got ter come home wid me, dis evenin'."
There was urgency in Mammy's voice.
"Maybe Mist' Rhett lissen ter you.
He allus did think a heap of yo' 'pinion."
"Oh, Mammy, what is it?
What do you mean?"
Mammy squared her shoulders.
"Miss Melly, Mist' Rhett done--done los' his mine.
He woan let us put Lil Miss away."
"Lost his mind?
Oh, Mammy, no!"
"Ah ain' lyin'.
It's de Gawd's truff.
He ain' gwine let us buhy dat chile.