Chapter 46 Summary

Throughout the night, Yankees knocked on almost every ex-confederate family's door, and the next day most of the men had been called into a Yankee court. However, the testimony of Belle and Rhett offers the men an alibi that clears them of all charges. The alibi that the men had been at Belle's that night may have saved the men, but it also allowed the Yankees to laugh at the proud men of Atlanta. Dr. Meade and others express an even deeper dislike of Rhett, and many of them blame Scarlett for their situation and Frank's death.

Melanie attempts to visit Belle to thank her for lying to save Ashley. Belle tells Melanie that she cannot call on a woman like her, but she has always respected Melanie since she was the only woman willing to take her money for the hospital. Belle...