@@@@@"How are the fields, Colum? Is the wheat
@@@@@"How are the fields, Colum? Is the wheat nearly ripe?
Is hay cut yet? Has there been plenty of sun? And what about the
that
was cut? Was there enough? Did it dry out like it was supposed to?
Is it good?
Does it burn hot?"
"Wait and see, Scarlett darlingYou'll be pleased with your
Ballyhara, I'm certain of it Scarlett was much more than pleasedThe townspeople had erected arches covered with
fresh greenery and gold ribbon over her route through Ballyhara townThey stood outside the arches waving handkerchiefs and hats,
cheering
her return"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you," she cried over and
over, with tears brimming from her eyesFitzpatrick and the three ill-assorted maids and the four dairymaids
and the stablemen were lined up to greet herScarlett could barely
keep herself from hugging MrsFitz, but she obeyed the housekeeper's
rules and maintained her dignityCat was bound by no rulesShe
laughed and held out her arms to MrsFitzpatrick and was immediately
caught up in an emotion-ridden embraceLess than an hour later
Scarlett was dressed in her Galway peasant clothes striding quickly
over her fields, Cat in her armsIt felt so good to be moving,
stretching her legsThere'd been too many hours, days, weeks of
sittingOn trains, and ships, in offices and armchairsNow she
wanted to walk, ride, bend, reach, run, danceShe was The O'Hara,
home again, and the sun was warm between gentle, cooling, swiftly
passing Irish rainsFragrant mounds of golden hay stood in field
cocks seven feet tall on the meadowsScarlett made a cave in one
and
crawled inside it with Cat to play houseCat shrieked with delight
when she pulled part of the "roof" down on themAnd then when the
dust made her sneezeShe picked off dried blossoms and put them in
her mouthHer expression of disgust when she spat them out made
Scarlett laughScarlett's laughter made Cat f
