Chapter XXXIII

Summary

Scarlett gets her first glimpse of Atlanta after the war. She is disheartened to see the absence of many familiar homes, but takes encouragement from all the construction underway. Scarlett hopes to be able to borrow money from her relatives, but Pittypat tearfully explains all the details of her lost farms and lack of money. Discussion of other members of the old Atlanta set reveal that people are doing things to survive that they never would have dreamed of in the old life. Mrs. Merriwether and Maybelle have been baking pies and selling them to Yankee soldiers. Rene Picard drives a wagon to the Yankee camp every day and sells cakes, pies and biscuits to the soldiers. The Meades have lost their home and have moved in with the Elsings who were able to rebuild the damaged part of their home. With the Whitings, who also have a room there, the Elsings are essentially running a boarding house-a dreadful state for people of such cultured backgrounds.

During the supper conversation, Aunt Pittypat spills the information that Rhett is in jail and may be hanged for killing a black man and that he has more money than anyone can count. Scarlett immediately fantasizes about how she would have all the millions herself if she could just get Rhett to marry her before he is hung. She takes advantage of her own travel weariness and asks to spend the morrow in bed while Pittypat and Mammy go out calling on friends.

Notes

None needed for this chapter.

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