Gone With The Wind: Chapter 27

Summary:

A meager but filling breakfast is interrupted by Sally Fontaine spreading the news that "the Yankees are coming."  Everyone freezes for a moment and Wade's worst fears are realized.  Scarlett digs down deep into her anger and starts ordering the residents at Tara to scatter the livestock and hide what they can before disappearing into the swamps.  It's Melanie that reacts the fastest and jumps onto their lone horse to drive the cows into the swamp.  Scarlett races back inside to hide whatever valuables they can and gather up Melanie's baby.  She has a clear path to escape but Tara calls to her and she refuses to leave.

The Yankee soldiers overturn everything in the house and take everything of value.  It's only when Scarlett sees they've appropriated Charles' sword, that is her son's only birthright, that she protests.  The Sergeant she appeals to allows her to keep the sword much to the chagrin of the lowly soldier that had claimed it.  Before leaving, the Yankees burn all of the cotton they'd managed to save over the summer and a fire is started in Tara's Kitchen.

Refusing to give up, Scarlett rushes into the kitchen to fight the flames.  Just when she thinks she is beaten the door to the kitchen opens and Melanie is there to aid her.  Together they fight back the fire and save the house.  Scarlett awakens on the porch, she had passed out in the smoke, with her head in Melanie's lap and she realizes that she has a new found respect for her sister-in-law.

Katiebug's Reaction:
We're seeing the continued development of mutual respect and friendship between Melanie and Scarlett.  When Scarlett starts barking orders, to save whatever provisions they have, it's Melanie that jumps to action.  We see that Melanie is not as weak as Scarlett has always supposed her to be and has almost as strong of a will as Scarlett herself.  Scarlett is not the only one that can adapt to a new south.

Melanie further proves herself to be as stubborn as Scarlett when she returns to help fight the fire left by the Yankees.  I think this is what Scarlett is coming to admire in her relative, even though she still feels she's a rival for Ashley's affections.  Together, though, these women will be able to withstand anything this new and dangerous world has to throw at them.

With the cotton gone, the residents at Tara have no source of income.  I suspect this will be a problem later when it comes time to pay taxes on the property.