@@@@@A roast of beef, a clove-studded ham, a
@@@@@A roast of beef, a
clove-studded ham, a bulging turkeyThen Helen appeared again with
a
huge bowl of steaming potatoes, followed more quickly now by the
others
with creamed carrots, roast onions, whipped sweet potatoesAgain
and
again the procession came until the table was covered with food and
relishes of every kind
The fiddle-Scarlett saw that Daniel from the store was playing-played
a
flourishing arpeggio, and Maureen entered carrying a tower of a cake
liberally trimmed with huge, vividly pink icing roses"Bakery cake!"
screamed TimothyJamie was immediately behind his wifeHe held
his two arms over his headHe was carrying three bottles of whiskey
in
each handThe fiddle began to play an exuberant rapid tune, and
everyone laughed and clappedThe drama of the procession was irresistible"Now
Brian," said JamieThe queens on their throne to the
hearth Before Scarlett knew what was happening the settee was
lifted
and she was holding on to Patricia while they were swung back and
forth
and moved to a place near the glowing coals in the fireplace"Uncle
James," Jamie ordered, and the old man was carried, laughing, in
his shy-backed chair to the other side of the mantelThe girl who had
been with James began to shoo the children, as if they were chickens,
into the other parlor, where Mary Kate laid a tablecloth on the floor
for them to sit on in front of the second fireplaceIn a surprisingly
short time there was calm where there had been chaosAnd while
they
ate and talked, Scarlett tried to "puzzle out" the adultsJamie's two
sons were so much alike that she could hardly believe that Daniel, at
twenty-one, was almost three years older than BrianWhen she
smiled
at Brian and said as much, he blushed as only a redhead can
The only other young man began to tease him unmercifully, but he
stopped when the pink-cheeked girl next to him put her hand on his
and
said, "Stop it, GeraldPa would be so pleased
to know that big handsome fellow was named after himHe called the
girl Polly, and they're so shiny with love they must be
fresh-married
And Patricia's being mighty bossy to the one Jamie called Billy, so
they must be husband and wife, tooBut Scarlett had little time to
listen for the names of the othersEveryone, it seemed, wanted to
talk to