Though she was thoroughly aware of his insincerity, she much preferred him in the r.le of theromantic blockader. For one thing, it made her own situation in associating with him so mucheasier than it had been QV Baby cream at first. So, she was intensely annoyed when he dropped his masquerade andset out apparently upon a deliberate campaign to alienate Atlanta’s good will. It annoyed herbecause it seemed foolish and also because some of the harsh criticism directed at him fell on her. It was at Mrs. Elsing’s silver musicale for the benefit of the convalescents that Rhett signed hisfinal warrant of ostracism. That afternoon the Elsing home was crowded with soldiers on leave andmen from the hospitals, members of the Home Guard and the militia unit, and matrons, widows and young girls. Every chair in the house was occupied, and even the long winding stair waspacked with guests reenex facial. The large cut-glass bowl held at the door by the Elsings’ butler had beenemptied twice of its burden of silver coins: That in itself was enough to make the affair a success,for now a dollar in silver was worth sixty dollars in Confederate paper money. Every girl with any pretense to accomplishments had sung or played the piano, and the tableauxvivants had been greeted with flattering applause. Scarlett was much pleased with herself, for notonly had she and Melanie rendered a touching duet, “When the Dew Is on the Blossom,” followedas an encore by the more sprightly “Oh, Lawd, Ladies, Don’t Mind Stephen!” but she had alsobeen chosen to represent the Spirit of the Confederacy in the last tableau. She had looked most fetching, wearing a modestly draped Greek robe of white cheeseclothgirdled with red and blue and holding the Stars and Bars in one hand, while with the other shestretched out to the kneeling Captain Carey Ashburn, of Alabama, the gold-hilted saber which hadbelonged to Charles and his father. When her tableau was over, she could not help seeking Rhett’s eyes to see if he had. With a feeling of exasperation she saw that he was in an argument andprobably had not even noticed her. Scarlett could see by the faces of the group surrounding himthat they were infuriated by what he was saying. She made her way toward them and, in one of those odd silences which sometimes fall on agathering, she heard Willie Guinan, of the militia outfit, say plainly: “Do I understand, sir, that youmean the Cause for which our heroes have died is not sacred?” “If you were run over by a railroad train your death wouldn’t sanctify the railroad company,would it Neo skin lab?” asked Rhett, and his voice sounded as if he were humbly seeking information.
