"So that's where you were so long! Whenever I send you somewhere you go where I tell you and don't stop to "pass any time' with anybody. Go --"
She stopped and racked her brain. Who was left in town among their friends who would be helpful? There was Mrs. Elsing. Of course, Mrs. Elsing didn't like her at all these days but she had always been fond of Melanie.
"Go to Mrs. Elsing's, and explain everything very carefully and ten her to please come up here. And, Prissy, listen to me. Miss Melly's baby is due and she may need you any minute now. Now you hurry right straight back."
"Yas'm," said Prissy and, turning, sauntered down the walk at snail's gait.
"Hurry, you slow poke!"
"Yas'm."
Prissy quickened her gait infinitesimally and Scarlett went back into the house. She hesitated again before going upstairs to Melanie. She would have to explain to her just why Mrs. Meade couldn't come and the knowledge that Phil Meade was badly wounded might upset her. Well, she'd tell a lie about it.
She entered Melanie's room and saw that the breakfast tray was untouched. Melanie lay on her side, her face white.
"Mrs. Meade's over at the hospital," said Scarlett "But Mrs. Rising is coming. Do you feel bad?"
"Not very," lied Melanie. "Scarlett, how long did it take Wade to get born?"
"Less than no time," answered Scarlett with a cheerfulness she was far from feeling. "I was out in the yard and I didn't hardly have time to get into the house. Mammy said it was scandalous -- just like one of the darkies."
"I hope I'll be like one of the darkies too," said Melanie, mustering a smile which suddenly disappeared as pain contorted her face.
Scarlett looked down at Melanie's tiny hips with none too sanguine hopes but said reassuringly: "Oh, it's not really so bad."
"Oh, I know it isn't. I'm afraid I'm a little coward. Is -- is Mrs. Elsing coming right away?"
"Yes, right away," said Scarlett. "I'll go down and get some fresh water and sponge you off. It's so hot today."
She took as long a time as possible in getting the water, running to the front door every two minutes to see if Prissy were coming. There was no sign of Prissy so she went back upstairs, sponged Melanie's perspiring body and combed out her long dark hair.
When an hour had passed she heard scuffing negro feet coming down the street, and looking out of the window, saw Prissy returning slowly, switching herself as before and tossing her head with as many airy affectations as if she had a large and interested audience.
"Some day, I'm going to take a strap to that little wench," thought Scarlett savagely, hurrying down the stairs to meet her.
"Miss Elsing ober at de horsepittle. Dey Cookie 'lows a whole lot of wounded sojers come in on de early train. Cookie fixin' soup ter tek over dar. She say --"
"Never mind what she said," interrupted Scarlett, her heart sinking. "Put on a clean apron because I want you to go over to the hospital. I'm going to give you a note to Dr. Meade, and if he isn't there, give it to Dr. Jones or any of the other doctors. And if you don't hurry back this time, I'll skin you alive."
"Yas'm."
"And ask any of the gentlemen for news of the fighting. If they don't know, go by the depot and ask the engineers who brought the wounded in. Ask if they are fighting at Jonesboro or near there."
"Gawdlmighty, Miss Scarlett!" and sudden fright was in Prissy's black face. "De Yankees ain' at Tara, is dey?"
"I don't know. I'm telling you to ask for news."
"Gawdlmighty, Miss Scarlett! Whut'll dey do ter Maw?"
Prissy began to bawl suddenly, loudly, the sound adding to Scarlett's own uneasiness.
"Stop bawling! Miss Melanie will hear you. Now go change your apron, quick."
Spurred to speed, Prissy hurried toward the back of the house while Scarlett scratched a hasty note on the margin of Gerald's last letter to her -- the only bit of paper in the house. As she folded it, so that her note was uppermost, she caught Gerald's words, "Your mother -- typhoid -- under no condition -- to come home --" She almost sobbed. If it wasn't for Melanie, she'd start home, right this minute, if she had to walk every step of the way.
Prissy went off at a trot, the letter gripped in her hand, and Scarlett went back upstairs, trying to think of some plausible lie to explain Mrs. Elsing's failure to appear. But Melanie asked no questions. She lay upon her back, her face tranquil and sweet, and the sight of her quieted Scarlett for a while.
She sat down and tried to talk of inconsequential things, but the thoughts of Tara and a possible defeat by the Yankees, prodded cruelly. She thought of Ellen dying and of the Yankees coming into Atlanta, burning everything, killing everybody. Through it all, the dull far-off thundering persisted, rolling into her ears in waves of fear. Finally, she could not talk at all and only stared out of the window at the hot still street and the dusty leaves hanging motionless on the trees. Mel