Chapter XLI

Summary

Following the funeral, Scarlett shows a rare glimpse of tenderness by giving GeraldÂ’s watch to Pork, his faithful man-servant. Then she calls for Ashley and offers him a management position and half interest in one of her mills. He declines, saying that he is going to New York to take a job offered him by a friend; he hopes to be able to stand on his own feet. Scarlett pleads and wails to no avail, but then Melanie enters the scene.

Melanie sees ScarlettÂ’s request as an opportunity to pay her back for all she has done for them. Also, Melanie is excited about the chance to go home. Ashley gives in, saying he canÂ’t fight them both, but his look of defeat frightens Scarlett.

Once in Atlanta, Melanie, Ashley and little Beau settle into a small house directly behind Aunt PittypatÂ’s house. They use what little money they have to purchase the simplest furniture, insisting on only the barest necessities because they donÂ’t want charity. Soon India Wilkes-who has never married-comes to live with them, thus creating a houseful.

MelanieÂ’s home is soon the center of a new society in Atlanta. Her quiet graciousness and refusal to give up the old ways draws the remnants of the antebellum south to her home. The little house is full nearly every evening with people who draw strength from MelanieÂ’s quiet but unbreakable courage. Scarlett is unable to understand how Melanie can bear to have people in her home when she lacks the finery that pre-war hostesses considered necessary.

Melanie is soon put in charge of several social groups such as the OrphanÂ’s Home and the Saturday Night Musicale. She shows her mettle at one point by suggesting that weeds be pulled and flowers planted on Yankee graves. The people react with horror until she explains that she would hope some nice Yankee ladies were keeping up the graves of the Confederate soldiers, and if the rest wonÂ’t help her, she will pull every weed and plant the flowers herself.

Meanwhile Scarlett frets impatiently at her pregnancy and inability to run her mills, which are both losing money and customers under the management of Hugh and Ashley. She realizes neither of the men has any business sense and contemplates hiring convicts as some other businesses have done. Frank vehemently forbids any such "trafficking in human flesh." Her only other option is to let Hugh go and replace him with Tommy Gallagher who looks like a thug himself but at least knows how to run a mill.

Notes

Scarlett's moneymaking ventures are no different in principle from what other women of Atlanta are doing. The difference, as Rhett so aptly explains to her on one occasion, is that the other women engage in business apologetically, acting ashamed of such unladylike activities as trying to sell something, while Scarlett goes about it without shame or care of what others think about her. The difference in attitudes between her and Melanie is sharply contrasted, however. Melanie is part of the dream world that Ashley describes, and is a lady in mind and action regardless of a lack of finery to testify of her status. People do not notice the lack of lace and chandeliers in her home because they do not have those things either. Scarlett understands but will not allow herself to admit that money does not make a lady nor does the lack of money deprive one of the grace and charm associated with a great lady.

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