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Gone_with_the_wind

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"I'm not afraid of what people say as long as I'm right. And I
have never felt that convict labor was right."
"But why--"
"I can't make money from the enforced labor and misery of others."
"But you owned slaves!"
"They weren't miserable. And besides, I'd have freed them all when
Father died if the war hadn't already freed them. But this is
different, Scarlett. The system is open to too many abuses.
Perhaps you don't know it but I do. I know very well that Johnnie
Gallegher has killed at least one man at his camp. Maybe more--who
cares about one convict, more or less? He said the man was killed
trying to escape, but that's not what I've heard elsewhere. And I
know he works men who are too sick to work. Call it superstition,
but I do not believe that happiness can come from money made from
the sufferings of others."
"God's nightgown! You mean--goodness, Ashley, you didn't swallow
all the Reverend Wallace's bellowings about tainted money?"
"I didn't have to swallow it. I believed it long before he
preached on it."
"Then, you must think all my money is tainted," cried Scarlett
beginning to be angry. "Because I worked convicts and own saloon
property and--" She stopped short. Both the Wilkes looked
embarrassed and Rhett was grinning broadly. Damn him, thought
Scarlett, vehemently. He's thinking that I'm sticking my finger in
other people's pies again and so is Ashley. I'd like to crack
their heads together! She swallowed her wrath and tried to assume
an aloof air of dignity but with little success.
"Of course, it's immaterial to me," she said.
"Scarlett, don't think I'm criticizing you! I'm not. It's just
that we look at things in different ways and what is good for you
might not be good for me."
She suddenly wished that they were alone, wished ardently that
Rhett and Melanie were at the end of the earth, so she could cry
out: "But I want to look at things the way you look at them! Tell
me just what you mean, so I can understand and be like you!"
But with Melanie present, trembling with the distress of the scene,
and Rhett lounging, grinning at her, she could only say with as
much coolness and offended virtue as she could muster: "I'm sure
it's your own business, Ashley, and far be it from me to tell you
how to run it. But, I must say, I do not understand your attitude
or your remarks."
Oh, if they were only alone, so she would not be forced to say
these cool things to him, these words that were making him unhappy!
"I've offended you, Scarlett, and I did not mean to. You must
believe me and forgive me. There is nothing enigmatic in what I
said. It is only that I believe that money which comes in certain
ways seldom brings happiness."
"But you're wrong!" she cried, unable to restrain herself any
longer. "Look at me! You know how my money came. You know how
things were before I made my money! You remember that winter at
Tara when it was so cold and we were cutting up the carpets for
shoes and there wasn't enough to eat and we used to wonder how we
were going to give Beau and Wade an education. You remem--"
"I remember," said Ashley tiredly, "but I'd rather forget."
"Well, you can't say any of us were happy then, can you? And look
at us now! You've a nice home and a good future. And has anyone a
prettier house than mine or nicer clothes or finer horses? Nobody
sets as fine a table as me or gives nicer receptions and my
children have everything they want. Well, how did I get the money
to make it possible? Off trees? No, sir! Convicts and saloon
rentals and--"
"And don't forget murdering that Yankee," said Rhett softly. "He
really gave you your start."
Scarlett swung on him, furious words on her lips.
"And the money has made you very, very happy, hasn't it, darling?"
he asked, poisonously sweet.
Scarlett stopped short, her mouth open, and her eyes went swiftly
to the eyes of the other three. Melanie was almost crying with
embarrassment, Ashley was suddenly bleak and withdrawn and Rhett
was watching her over his cigar with impersonal amusement. She
started to cry out: "But of course, it's made me happy!"
But somehow, she could not speak.
CHAPTER LVIII