I'm wondering now if Rhett really is as bad as he's made out to be or if he had just cause to act as he did towards the woman he 'compromised'. The way he justifies his actions makes it seem as though the scandal was blown out of proportion - perhaps we'll never know. He mentioned there was an 'accident' on the night he 'compromised' the lady, preventing them from getting home at a reasonable hour. But then again, perhaps he really is a rogue! I admire him for not wanting to comform to the rigid rules of polite society. In that respect, he and Scarlett are so well suited.

I don't think Melanie is a fool as Scarlett likes to think she is. She's an interesting character and has a quiet inner strength that is admirable. She comes across as a true lady and is able to stick by her beliefs without jeopardising her reputation. I love how Rhett returns her wedding ring, and whilst Scarlett thinks it's his way of getting to see Scarlett, perhaps it is to an extent, but I really believe he returned it out of respect for Melanie. She is one of the only people Rhett has respect for. I also wonder if he returned the ring to remind Scarlett Ashley is taken. To rub it in. He has Scarlett sussed and knows how to play her to keep her guessing. I can't work out if she finds him attractive or just likes the attention he pays her and the gifts he buys her and because he is a challenge to her.

Ashley and Melanie are so suited.

Belle Watling is going to be an interesting character I think. I read she's an exaggerated version of Scarlett.

That's about all I can remember!

I love how Ashley and Melanie's relationship is being portrayed. Although it put Scarlett in a bad light that she only looks for sweet sentiments and nothing deeper from Ashley and that she doesn't understand him at all. I can't believe she still thinks he must love her!

I don't know how I feel about Rhett being a 'speculator'. He doesn't seem to belong anywhere, unlike the other characters. I couldn't help siding with him a little re his thoughts about how futile the cause is and didn't blame him for wanting to make money from the situation. I suppose Rhett sees it as survival of the fittest. However, it does seem cruel that he kept aside his cotton, waiting for the right moment to sell it at ridiculously high prices. And the knock-on effect people's demand for luxuries had on the Confederate soldiers who went without boots, food and equipment. Rhett is a bit of a clever devil isn't he? He knows he's not a gentlemen so doesn't pretend to be, and is able to speak his mind and do what he likes, relying on his charm to blag his way through polite society. They know he's bad but can't resist him!

The scene where Scarlett more or less begs Ashley to kiss her before he leaves - do you think he really reciprocates the kiss, or does he bend to kiss her politely but she grabs him etc? Or does he secretly fancy Scarlett? I have a feeling he wanted to kiss her. I wonder if Melanie picked up any vibes from Scarlett in the week Ashley was home. I felt sorry for him not having any time to himself! How obsessed is Scarlett? You'd think she'd have given Ashley up by now, but she's determined to get one over Melanie and make him hers. She's deluded!

I thought the feeling of war, moving closer and closer to Atlanta, was conveyed well.

If Melanie is deemed too small (in the hips I think it is?) to give birth without complications, goodness knows how Scarlett coped with her teeny tiny waist! Or perhaps she had hips wide enough. And she had an easy birth too. I wonder if pregnancy means she now doesn't have such a tiny waist, but that's by the by, as they would say.

Shoes costing up to $800  

Just how many beaux does Scarlett have?

It made me smile that at 19, Scarlett describes herself as 'getting on'. But then she has been married, had a baby and been widowed in the last 3 yrs.

Feel sorry for Wade. Does anyone else feel sorry for him?

I can't quite get used to the embarrassment felt by women at the thought of discussing pregnancy with men and having to hide their condition. How uncomfortable for Melly to have to wear hoops, hoisting them up to cover her bump.

Glynis I agree that I feel desperately sorry for Wade. Scarlett seems to have no compassion for her child at all. He just seems to be a scared little boy who only gets looked after by Prissy, and isn't she only a child herself?

I think the depiction of the war is great. I've been a bit confused over all the different town names at times, but you get a real feel for how the confeds have been fighting to the last and how determined the yankees are.

It's going to be interesting to see how it pans out when Atlanta does fall to the yankees. At the moment I'm at the point where you can see that it's inevitable but the fighting is still ongoing.

"Feeling that she would burst a blood-vessel if she stayed another minute, she stormed up the stairs. And as she reached the upper floor, she heard him obligingly slam the door for her."  - Hysterical!!

That feeling leaves you quite abruptly over the next two chapters though, the descriptions of the war and wounded men left me with a sense of the desperatness of the situation.