Chapter III

That night at supper, Scarlett’s mind was in a ferment over the dreadful news she had heard about Ashley and Melanie. Of course, she did not intend to tell her mother what was so heavy on her heart. Her mother, Ellen, will be shocked and grieved to know that a daughter of hers wants a man who is engaged to another girl. But she wanted the very comfort of her mother’s presence. She always felt secure when Ellen was by her.

She rose suddenly from her chair at the sound of creaking wheels in the driveway. Looking out the window, Scarlett saw Pork. Pork entered, his usual dignity was gone, his eyes were rolling.

«Mister Gerald», he announced, breathing hard, «your new housemaid is here».

«New housemaid? I didn’t buy any new housemaid», declared Gerald.

«Yes, you did, Mister Gerald! Yes! And she wants to speak with you», answered Pork, giggling and twisting his hands in excitement.

«Well, bring in your wife», said Gerald, and Pork beckoned into the hall to his wife. She arrived from the Wilkes plantation to become part of the household of Tara. She entered, and behind her came her twelve-year-old daughter.

Dilcey was tall. Her immobile bronze face was unlined. Indian blood was plain in her features. The red color of her skin, narrow high forehead, all showed the mixture of two races. When she spoke, her voice was not so slurred as most negroes’ and she chose her words more carefully.

«Good evening, young Misses. Mister Gerald, I am sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to come here and thank you again for buying me and my daughter».

«Hm-hmm», said Gerald.

Dilcey turned to Scarlett and something like a smile wrinkled the corners of her eyes.

«Miss Scarlett, Poke told me how you asked Mister Gerald to buy me. And so I give you my Prissy for your own maid».

She jerked the little girl forward. She was a brown little creature, with skinny legs like a bird. She had sharp eyes and stupid look on her face.

«Thank you, Dilcey», Scarlett replied, «but I’m afraid Mammy will have something to say about that. She’s been my maid ever since I was born».

«Mammy is getting old», said Dilcey. «She a good mammy, but you are a young lady now and you need a good maid. Prissy has been maiding for Miss India for a year. She can sew and fix hair».

It was late, and Scarlett went to bed. She dropped her head upon her folded hands, and her thoughts went sadly back to Ashley. How can he plan to marry Melanie when he really loves her, Scarlett? And when he knows how much she loves him? Then, suddenly, an idea, shining and new, flashed like a comet through her brain.

«Why, Ashley hasn’t an idea that I’m in love with him!»

Her mind stood still as if paralyzed for a long, breathless instant.

«How could he know? I’ve always acted so prissy and ladylike around him he probably thinks I don’t care a thing about him. Yes, that’s why he’s never spoken! He thinks his love is hopeless. And that’s why he’s looked so…»

Her mind went swiftly back to those times when he was looking at her in that strange manner.

«He thinks I’m in love with Brent or Stuart or Cade. But if he knows I love him…»

This was the answer to Ashley’s reticence, to his strange conduct. He didn’t know! She had only to…

«Oh!» she thought rapturously. «What a fool I’ve been! I must think of some way to let him know. He won’t marry her if he knows I love him!»

Even now, it wasn’t too late! And Ashley’s engagement had not even been announced yet! Yes, there was plenty of time!

If no love lay between Ashley and Melanie but only a promise, then why wasn’t it possible for him to break that promise and marry her? Surely he will do it, if he knows that she, Scarlett, loves him. She must find some way to let him know. She will find some way! And then…

Lying in the bed, she pictured the whole scene in her mind. She saw the look of surprise and happiness that came over his face when he realized that she really loved him, and she heard the words he said asking her to be his wife.

By this time tomorrow night, she might be Mrs. Ashley Wilkes!

She sat up in bed, and for a long happy moment she was Mrs. Ashley Wilkes… Ashley’s bride!

Chapter IV

As the carriage bore Scarlett down the red road toward the Wilkes plantation, Scarlett had a feeling of pleasure.

«Perhaps it will be my wedding day!», thought Scarlett. «I’ll tell Ashley that I love him and he will marry me. Why not? I am sure he loves me, too»

The chimneys of Twelve Oaks began to show on the hill across the river.

«I’ll live there all my life and I’ll tell my children and my grandchildren how beautiful this spring was».

She was so happy at this thought that she began to sing.

«I don’t know why you’re so happy this morning», said Suellen crossly. «You know as well as I do that Ashley’s engagement is going to be announced tonight. And you cares about him».

«That’s all you know», said Scarlett.

«Susie, you know that’s not so», protested Carreen. «It’s Brent that Scarlett cares about».

Scarlett turned smiling green eyes upon her younger sister.

«Darling, I don’t care a thing about Brent», declared Scarlett. «And he doesn’t care a thing about me. He’s waiting for you!»

Carreen’s round little face became pink.

They crossed the river and the carriage mounted the hill. Scarlett loved Twelve Oaks even more than Tara.

The long picnic tables stood under the thickest shade. As the smell of fresh pork came to her, Scarlett wrinkled her nose appreciatively. She was full of food and tightly laced.

The whole County was here, thought Scarlett. The four Tarleton boys and their father leaned against the tall columns, the twins, Stuart and Brent, Boyd and Tom with their father, James Tarleton. Mr. Calvert was standing close by the side of his Yankee wife. On the porch steps stood John Wilkes. Beside him stood Honey Wilkes.

Frank Kennedy was hurrying to the carriage to assist Suellen. Frank Kennedy owned more land than anyone in the County, but he was forty, slight and nervous and had a thin beard. But where was Ashley? And Melanie and Charles?

Her eyes fell on a stranger. He was standing alone in the hall. He looked quite old, at least thirty-five. He was a tall man. Scarlett thought she had never seen a man with such wide shoulders, so heavy with muscles. He was dark of face, swarthy as a pirate, and his eyes were bold and black.

He turned as someone called:

«Rhett! Rhett Butler! Come here!»

«I must run upstairs and smooth my hair», she told Stuart and Brent. «You boys wait for me and don’t run off with any other girl or I’ll be furious».

Scarlett started up the wide stairs. As she did, a shy voice behind her called her name and she saw Charles Hamilton. He was a nice-looking boy with a riot of brown curls on his white forehead and brown eyes. But he was timid with girls. She had never paid him much attention, but the smile of pleasure with which she greeted him almost took his breath away.

«Charles Hamilton, you’re very handsome today! Have you come here from Atlanta just to break my poor heart?»

Charles almost stuttered with excitement. Charles was not excited over the prospect of marrying her. And here was Scarlett O’Hara teasing him about breaking her heart! It was too good to be true.

«Now, you wait right here till I come back, for I want to eat barbecue with you. And remember: I am jealous», came the incredible words from red lips.

«I will», he finally managed to whisper, he looked like a calf waiting for the butcher.

Rhett Butler who stood alone a few feet away from Charles. Evidently he had overheard the whole conversation.

In the bedroom, she found Cathleen Calvert.

«Cathleen», said Scarlett, trying to pull the corsage of her dress higher, «who is that nasty man downstairs named Butler?»

«My dear, don’t you know?» whispered Cathleen excitedly. «He isn’t received![6]»

«What did he do?»

«Oh, Scarlett, he’s from Charleston. Caro told me about him last summer. She knows all about him, everybody does. He was expelled from West Point. Imagine! And then there was that business about the girl he didn’t marry. This Mr. Butler took a Charleston girl out buggy riding. And, my dear, they stayed out nearly all night and walked home finally, saying the horse had run away and smashed the buggy and they had gotten lost in the woods. And guess what…»

«I can’t guess. Tell me», said Scarlett enthusiastically.

«He refused to marry her the next day!»

«Oh», said Scarlett.

«He said he hadn’t… er… done anything to her and he didn’t see why marry her. And, of course, her brother called him out[7], and Mr. Butler shot the girl’s brother and he died, and Mr. Butler had to leave Charleston and now nobody receives him», finished Cathleen triumphantly.

Scarlett attracted dozens beaux, but not Ashle. Ashley had made no attempt to join the circle about her. He just came forward to welcome her when she came into the back garden. And Melanie was always nearby.

She was a tiny girl. She looked and was as simple as earth. She smiled timidly. Ashley had sat on a stool at Melanie’s feet, apart from the other guests, and talked quietly with her. Ashley did not seem to notice her at all. He only looked up at Melanie and talked on. So, Scarlett was miserable.

Charles Hamilton was on her right. He held her fan in one hand and his untouched plate of barbecue in the other. Scarlett giggled. But Ashley was playing smiling up at Melanie. Pain twisted Scarlett’s heart.

«When all the girls will go upstairs to take naps to be fresh for tonight», she thought, «I’ll stay downstairs and talk to Ashley».

Men were talking about the war.

«Of course we’ll fight… Yankee thieves… We can win them in a month… They want war…»

Charles Hamilton leaned closer and whispered:

«Miss O’Hara… I had already decided that if we fight, I’ll go over to South Carolina and join a troop there».

Scarlett looked at him. He went on rapidly,

«If I go… will you be sorry, Miss O’Hara?»

«I will cry into my pillow every night», said Scarlett.

«Will you pray for me?»

«What a fool!» thought Scarlett bitterly.

«Oh yes, indeed, Mr. Hamilton!»

Charles drew in his breath, stiffened the muscles of his stomach.

«Miss O’Hara… I must tell you something. I… I love you!»

«Um?» said Scarlett absently.

«Yes!» whispered Charles. «I love you! You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known and I love you with all my heart. I will… I want to marry you».

Scarlett was thinking Ashley, and she looked at Charles with irritation. And she murmured:

«Mr. Hamilton, I do not know what to say».

Charles swallowed the bait.

«I will wait forever! Please, Miss O’Hara, tell me that I may hope!»

«Um», said Scarlett.

«You promised to show me your library, sir», Rhett said to John Wilkes.

Ashley strolled over to where Scarlett and Charles sat. But Ashley was not looking at her. He was looking at Charles. They began to talk about the war.

Scarlett stood on the landing and peered cautiously over the banisters into the hall below. It was empty. Melanie was lying down on the bed with Honey and Hetty Tarleton, and then she slipped into the hall. The library was in darkness. Large numbers of books always depressed her.

She closed the door.

«Why, Scarlett!» said Ashley’s voice. He stood in the hall.

«Who are you hiding from – Charles or the Tarletons?»

She could not speak, but she drew him into the room. He entered, puzzled but interested. Automatically he closed the door behind him and took her hand.

«What is it?» he said, almost in a whisper. «A secret to tell me?»

«Yes… a secret. I love you».

For an instance there was a silence. Why did Ashley look so oddly and say nothing?

«Isn’t it enough that you’ve collected every other man’s heart here today?» he said.

Something was wrong! This was not the way she had planned it. Ashley was acting as if he thought she was just flirting with him.

«Ashley… tell me… Oh, my dear, I lo…»

«You must not say these things, Scarlett! You don’t mean them. You’ll hate yourself for saying them, and you’ll hate me for hearing them!»

«I will never hate you. I tell you I love you and I know you must… Ashley, do you love me?»

«Yes», he said dully. «I do. But, Scarlett, can’t we forget that?»

«No», she whispered. «I can’t. What do you mean? Don’t you want to marry me?»

He replied, «I’m going to marry Melanie».

She looked into his crystal eyes.

«Father will announce the engagement tonight. We will be married soon. I never dreamed that you… You’ve so many beaux».

«But you just said you loved me».

«My dear, I don’t want to say things that will hurt you. Love isn’t enough when two people are as different as we are. You would want all of a man, Scarlett, his body, his heart, his soul, his thoughts. And if you do not have them, you will be miserable. And I can’t give you all of me».

«Do you love her?»

«We understand each other. Scarlett! I’m going to marry Melanie. How can’t I love you? You who can love and hate with a violence impossible to me?»

«You coward! You’re afraid to marry me!»

«But dear Scarlett», his voice pleaded. «Did I ever…»

Her anger rose, the anger of hurt pride and feminine vanity.

«I shall hate you till I die, you cad… you coward!»

«Scarlett… please…»

She slapped him across the face with all the strength she had. He said nothing but lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he was gone. She sat down again.

Her hand dropped to a little table beside her. She picked up the bowl and hurled it viciously across the room toward the fireplace. It splintered with a little crash against the marble mantelpiece.

«This», said a voice from the depths of the sofa, «is too much».

Rhett Butler rose from the sofa where he had been lying and made her a bow. He had heard everything!

«Sir», she said, «you are no gentleman!»

«An apt observation», he answered airily. «And, you, Miss, are no lady».

She walked out of the room and banged the heavy door behind her.

She went up the stairs swiftly. The she stopped and saw Charles. When he saw her, he hurried toward her. Charles stared at her.

«I’m so clumsy», he said. «I forgot how delicate ladies are. I’m sorry. Shall we sit on the bench?»

She nodded and he carefully handed her down.

«He has a lot of money», she was thinking. «And he hasn’t any parents to bother me and he lives in Atlanta. And if I marry him right away, it will show Ashley that I don’t care… that I was only flirting with him. And it will kill Honey. And it will hurt Melanie, because she loves Charles so much. And it would hurt Stu and Brent…»

«I can’t decide now whether to go with Mr. Wade Hampton’s South Carolina Legion or with the Atlanta Gate City Guard», said Charles…

She said, «Oh» and their eyes met.

«Will you wait for me, Miss Scarlett?»

«I don’t want to wait», she said.

«Can you possibly love me?»

She said nothing.

«You will marry me soon, Miss Scarlett?»

«Um», she said.

«When may I speak to your father?»

«The sooner the better».

He leaped up and looked down at her radiantly. The white house will never be her house now. Ashley will never marry her. Oh, Ashley, Ashley! What have I done? She loved Ashley and she knew she loved him.

Chapter V

Within two weeks Scarlett had become a wife, and within two months more she was a widow. But, to her dismay, motherhood soon followed. Two weeks! So short an engagement was impossible in times of peace. But the South was aflame with war.

Charles was impatient to be off to South Carolina to join Wade Hampton’s Legion. The South was intoxicated with enthusiasm and excitement. Every young man hastened to enlist, hastened to marry his sweetheart before he rushed off to Virginia to fight the Yankees. There were dozens of war weddings in the County.

Scarlett was clad in Ellen’s wedding dress and veil. Gerald was happy that his daughter was marrying both money and a fine name. Ashley was standing at the bottom of the steps with Melanie’s arm through his. When she saw the look on his face, she thought: «This can’t be real. It can’t be. It’s a nightmare. I mustn’t think of it now. I’ll think later, when I can’t see his eyes».

It was all very dreamlike, the passage through the aisle of smiling people, Charles’ face, the congratulations, the kissing and the dancing… all, all like a dream. Even the feel of Ashley’s kiss upon her cheek, even Melanie’s soft whisper, «Now, we’re really and truly sisters», were unreal.

As Cherles hesitatingly approached the bed Scarlett spoke in a hoarse whisper:

«I’ll scream out loud if you come near me. I will! Get away from me!»

So Charles Hamilton spent his wedding night in an armchair in the corner. Her own wedding had been nightmarish, but Ashley’s wedding was even worse. Melanie Hamilton became Melanie Wilkes. Ashley had said he loved her, but what separated them?

Oh, how she regretted it all. That night Charles had emerged shyly from the dressing room, and she burst into tears[8]. A week after the wedding Charles left to join Colonel Wade Hampton, and two weeks later Ashley and the Troop departed.

In those two weeks, Scarlett never saw Ashley alone, never had a private word with him. Melanie said: «You must kiss Scarlett, Ashley. She’s my sister now», and Ashley bent and touched her cheek with cold lips.

«You will come to Atlanta and visit me and Aunt Pittypat, won’t you? Oh, darling, we want to know Charlie’s wife better», exclaimed Melanie.

Five weeks passed during which letters, shy, ecstatic, loving, came from Charles in South Carolina telling of his love, his plans for the future when the war was over. In the seventh week, there came a telegram from Colonel Hampton himself, and then a letter. Charles had died ignominiously and swiftly of pneumonia.

In due time, Charles’ son was born. He was called Wade. Scarlett felt little affection for the child. She had not wanted him. She was dazed and sick. Her boredom was acute and ever present. All of the interesting young men were gone. Only the older men, the cripples and the women were left. She was a widow and her heart was in the grave. Everyone expected her to act accordingly. This irritated her. A widow had to wear hideous black dresses, no flower or ribbon or lace or even jewelry. Widows can never chatter vivaciously or laugh aloud. Even when they smiled, it must be a sad, tragic smile.

How stupid of them to say that now she had something to live for! She had very little interest in Wade and sometimes it was difficult to remember that he was actually hers. And Ashley! She hated Twelve Oaks now. Ashley!

So Scarlett’s trunk was packed with her mourning clothes and off she went to Atlanta with Wade Hampton and his nurse Prissy. She did not want to go to Atlanta. Aunt Pitty was the silliest of old ladies.

Chapter VI

The train carried Scarlett northward. Scarlett stood on the lower step of the train, a pale pretty figure in her black mourning dress.

«This is Miss Scarlett, isn’ it? I am Peter, Miss Pitty’s coachman. Don’t step down in that mud», the coachman ordered severely.

Scarlett looked at Prissy and sighed. Prissy was not the best of nurses. Where are the fat old arms of Mammy? But Mammy was at Tara. Wade’s face went purple with his squalling, Scarlett snapped crossly:

«Give him that sugar-tit[9] in your pocket, Priss. I know he’s hungry, but I can’t do anything about that now».

Atlanta was humming like a beehive. In Atlanta, there were machine factories which were manufacturing war materials. Trains roared in and out of the town at all hours.

«I’ll like it here[10]», thought Scarlett. «It’s so alive and exciting!»

Scarlett’s eye was caught by a figure on the sidewalk in a brightly colored dress. She saw a tall handsome woman with a bold face and a mass of red hair.

«Uncle Peter, who is she?» Scarlett whispered.

«Her name is Belle Watling», said Uncle Peter. «Miss Scarlett, you’ll see a lot of strange folks in this town».

As they passed a green house, a little black girl on the front steps cried, «She has come!», and Dr. Meade and his wife and little thirteen-year-old Phil emerged. After shaking her hand, the doctor announced Scarlett’s work in a hospital committee.

«What are hospital committees?» Scarlett asked.

«We have nursing committees for different hospitals», Mrs. Meade said. «We nurse the men and help the doctors and make bandages and clothes».

The carriage slipped and slid down the muddy road and Scarlett leaned back on the cushions and smiled. Atlanta was very pleasant.

Scarlett saw the red brick and slate roof of Miss Pittypat’s house. It was almost the last house on the north side of town.

Scarlett came to Atlanta with no idea as to how long she was going to remain. But Aunt Pitty and Melanie began a campaign to induce her to make her home permanently with them. They loved her so much.

Uncle Henry liked Scarlett immediately.

«When Wade Hampton comes of age, he’s going to be a rich young man», Uncle Henry said. Scarlett smiled but said nothing. She missed Tara. She realized what Gerald had meant when he said that the love of the land was in her blood. «If only Ashley wasn’t married!»

Scarlett could not escape her duty because she was on both Mrs. Meade’s and Mrs. Merriwether’s committees. That meant four mornings a week in the stinking hospital. Every matron, old or young, in Atlanta nursed.

Certainly there was nothing romantic about nursing. To her, it meant groans, delirium, death and smells. The hospitals were filled with dirty, bewhiskered, verminous men who smelled terribly.

Melanie she was gentle, sympathetic and cheerful, and the men in the hospitals called her an angel of mercy. Scarlett did not like nursing at all! But in spite of these discomforts, Atlanta pleased her very well.

Chapter VII

It simply wasn’t fair. Scarlett had worked twice as hard as any girl in town. She had knitted socks and baby caps and mufflers and tatted yards of lace. And she had embroidered half a dozen sofa-pillow cases[11] with the Confederate flag on them. She was only seventeen; oh, it wasn’t fair!

Pittypat entered the room.

«Auntie, I’m so tired of sitting at home».

«Scarlett, promise me you won’t say things like that. People will say you don’t have the proper respect for poor Charlie».

Scarlett cried. Melanie entered.

«Oh», said she. «Be brave, dear. Don’t cry. Oh, Scarlett!»

«I want to be dead!» she sobbed passionately.

«Dear, don’t cry! Try to think how much Charlie loved you!»

«Go away and leave me alone!» shouted Scarlett.

She sank her face into the pillow. She heard Melanie say to Pittypat in a low voice as they went down the stairs:

«Aunt Pitty, Don’t speak of Charles to her. You know how it always affects her».

Scarlett kicked the coverlet in impotent rage,

«Damn it!» she cried at last.

Deliverance came in the form she least expected. During the after-dinner-nap period, Mrs. Merriwether and Mrs. Elsing drove up.

«Mrs. Bonnell’s children have the measles», said Mrs. Merriwether abruptly.

«And the McLure girls are in Virginia», said Mrs. Elsing. «Dallas McLure is wounded».

«How dreadful!» chorused their hostesses. «Poor Dallas!»

«No. Just through the shoulder», said Mrs. Merriwether briskly. «The girls are going North to bring him home. We must hurry back to the Armory and do the decorating. Pitty, we need you and Melly tonight. We need women for the booth».

«Oh, but, Dolly, we can’t go. With poor Charlie dead only a…»

«I know how you feel but there isn’t any sacrifice too great for the Cause», broke in Mrs. Elsing in a soft voice.

«Oh, we’d love to help but… why can’t you get some sweet pretty girls to take the booths?»

Mrs. Merriwether snorted.

«The young people have no sense of responsibility. Let that blockade runner[12], Captain Butler, bring more hospital supplies[13] and less hoop skirts and lace. Captain Butler… I’m sick of the name. Now, Pitty, I haven’t time to argue. You must come. Everybody will understand».

«I think we must go», said Scarlett. «It is the least we can do for the hospital, all of us. I think I must go in the booth with Melly. Don’t you think so, Melly?»

«Well», began Melly helplessly.

«Scarlett’s right», said Mrs. Merriwether. «Both of you… all of you must come».

«Too good to be true!» said Scarlett’s joyful heart. A party! After a year’s seclusion! And she will see people and many lights and hear music!

The musicians clambered upon their platform. Then the fiddles, bull fiddles, accordions, banjos and knuckle-bones[14] began to play «Lorena». One-two-three, one-two-three. What a beautiful waltz! The hall was full of girls, girls who floated in bright dresses. There were so many uniforms in the crowd… so many uniforms on so many men whom Scarlett knew, men she had met on hospital cots, on the streets. Such handsome men!

Turning, Scarlett saw Melly. She smiled at Scarlett, whimsically.

«I’m so happy», she whispered, «and so proud of the soldiers!».

There was a deep, almost fanatic glow in her eyes. The same look was on the faces of all the women, tears of pride on cheeks, smiles on lips. Scarlett realized that she did not share with these women their pride.

Scarlett wanted to scream. She wanted to dance. Her green eyes blazed eagerly. A man who was standing in the doorway, saw them, and grinned to himself. He was dressed in black broadcloth. His hair was black, and his black mustache was small.

She stood as if paralyzed.

«Permit me», he said bending over. «Do you recall me, Miss O’Hara?»

She looked up at him imploringly. This terrible person who gave her nightmares. Rhett Butler!

«And what are you doing so far from Charleston, Mr. Butler?» said Melanie.

«A boring matter of business, Mrs. Wilkes. No wonder Miss O’Hara is faint. May I lead you to a window?»

«No», said Scarlett, so rudely that Melly stared.

«She is not Miss O’Hara any longer», said Melly. «She is Mrs. Hamilton. She is my sister now».

«Your husbands are here tonight, I trust, on this happy occasion?»

«My husband is in Virginia», said Melly. «But Charles…»

«He died in camp», said Scarlett flatly.

«My dear ladies… You must forgive me. But I’m a stranger here. To die for one’s country is to live forever».

He knows about Ashley and he knows I didn’t love Charlie, thought Scarlett. She said nothing. He leaned down across the counter and hissed:

«Fear not, fair lady! Your guilty secret is safe with me!»

There was a roll of drums and many voices cried «Sh!» as Dr. Meade mounted the platform.

«The good ladies of the hospital committee know our needs. We must have more money to buy medical supplies from England, and we have with us tonight the intrepid captain who brings us the drugs we need. Captain Rhett Butler!»

Captain made a graceful bow.

«We need more gold and I am asking you for it», the doctor continued. «I am asking a sacrifice. Ladies, the Confederacy wants your jewelry. The gold will be melted and the stones sold and the money used to buy drugs and other medical supplies!»

Scarlett was happy that mourning forbade her wearing her precious earbobs and the heavy gold chain and the gold and black enameled bracelets and the garnet brooch. She saw women, old and young, laughing, eager, tugging at bracelets, unpinning brooches from bosoms.

The grinning little man was coming to their booth now, his basket heavy on his arm, and as he passed Rhett Butler a handsome gold cigar case was thrown carelessly into the basket.

«Wait!» cried Scarlett. «I have something for you!» She threw her wedding ring into the basket.

«Oh, my darling!» whispered Molly. «You brave, brave girl! Wait, Lieutenant! I have something for you, too!»

Molly threw her own wedding ring into the basket.

«What a beautiful gesture», said Rhett Butler, softly.

Scarlett disliked him heartily.

«Why don’t you say what you really think?» he demanded. «Why don’t you say I’m a damned rascal and no gentleman? I see that you are a coward. You don’t say what you really think».

«Then I’ll say», she said. «I don’t want to see you again! You aren’t a gentleman!»

«Listen,» he said with a grin. «You just wanted to dance and have a good time and you can’t. Tell the truth. Am I not right?»

«Captain Butler», she said. «Just because you’re the ‘great blockader’, it doesn’t give you the right to insult women».

«The great blockader! That’s a joke. Blockading is a business. And the Yankees help me make my money. Last month I sailed my boat right into New York harbor and took on a cargo».

«What!» cried Scarlett. «Didn’t they shoot you?»

«Of course not. There are plenty of sturdy Union patriots who want to get some money selling goods to the Confederacy. I run my boat into New York, buy goods from Yankee, and away I go. It’s more convenient than going to England».

«And now, ladies and gentlemen, I am going to propose a surprise. But this is for the Case. The dancing is about to begin. Gentlemen, if you wish to danse with the lady of your choice, you must bargain for her. I will be auctioneer and the proceeds will go to the hospital!»

Scarlett said nothing but her eyes glittered. She’s a widow! Suddenly she heard her own name:

«Mrs. Charles Hamilton, one hundred and fifty dollars, in gold».

«Another one of our belles, perhaps?» questioned the doctor.

«No», said Rhett clearly. «Mrs. Hamilton».

«I tell you it is impossible», said the doctor testily. «Mrs. Hamilton will not…»

Scarlett cried,

«Yes, I will!»

Chapter VIII

Next morning, Pittypat was lachrymose, Melanie was silent and Scarlett defiant.

«I don’t care if they talk. I made more money for the hospital than any girl there».

«Oh, dear, what does the money matter?» wailed Pittypat. «I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Poor Charlie! And that awful Captain Butler, he’s a terrible, terrible person!»

«Oh, I can’t believe he’s that bad», said Melly gently. «He seemed a perfect gentleman and he is brave. Darling, I understand and it was a brave thing you did last night and it will help the hospital a lot. Aunt Pitty, don’t cry. We must have three convalescents in our house, like everybody else, and some of the soldiers out to dinner every Sunday. Scarlett, don’t you fret. We know you loved Charlie».

Prissy entered with a bulky letter.

«For you, Miss Melly. A little boy has brought it».

«For me?» said Melly, wondering, as she opened the envelope.

Scarlett saw a broad gold ring.

«Read it», said Melly, pointing to the. «Oh, how sweet, how kind, he is!»

Scarlett, bewildered, picked up the sheet:

«Accept, dear Madam, this token of my reverence for your courage. This ring has been redeemed at ten times its value. Captain Rhett Butler».

Melanie slipped the ring on her finger and looked at it lovingly.

«I told you he was a gentleman, didn’t I?» she said turning to Pittypat. «Aunt Pittypat, you must write him a note and invite him to Sunday dinner so I can thank him».

So Captain Butler got the invitation into Pittypat’s house.

«It is difficult for me to believe that you forgot yourself», ran Ellen’s letter and Scarlett scowled. Which of the old cats had written to Ellen? «To dance, and with such a man as Captain Butler! He is a man of bad repute. I am heartbroken. Your father will be in Atlanta on Friday, he will speak with Captain Butler and escort you home».

Scarlett was frightened. Sh

«Not… not bad news?» quavered Pittypat.

«Pa is coming tomorrow and he’s going to give me a good lesson», answered Scarlett dolorously.

«I feel ill», said Pittypat weakly. «I must go lie down. You must give him my excuses».

«I’ll help you. I’ll explain how you did it for the hospital. Surely he’ll understand», said Melly.

«No, he won’t», said Scarlett.

«He can’t take you to Tara!» said Melly. «This is your home now. What will we do without you?»

Soon Gerald arrived.

Melanie and Pittypat had gone to sleep, but Scarlett lay awake in the warm darkness. To leave Atlanta when life had just begun again! She heard some noise. Gerald was coming home. He was drunk and singing songs.

Someone was with him. She heard Gerald’s voice, «Now I’ll sing you another song. You must know it, lad. I’ll teach it to you».

«I’ll learn it», replied his companion. «But not now, Mr. O’Hara».

«I suppose I must go down», thought Scarlett. «After all he’s my father».

She unlocked the door and saw Rhett Butler. He was supporting her small father.

«Your father, I believe?» said Captain Butler.

«Bring him in», she said shortly. «Here. Now lay him down».

«I will be seeing you Sunday at dinner», he said and went out.

At five-thirty Gerald was awake. He looked up furtively as she entered. He groaned.

«Morning!»

«It’s a fine way you’ve acted, Pa», she began in a furious whisper.

«I remember nothing».

«Oh», moaned Gerald. «It happened after the game. That Butler bragged that he was the best poker player in…»

«How much did you lose?»

«Five hundred dollars», said Gerald.

«What will Mother say when she hears?»

«You won’t tell your mother a word, will you?»

Scarlett said nothing.

«Please, don’t», pleaded Gerald.

«I won’t», said Scarlett, «if you let me stay here and if you tell Mother that it was nothing but a lot of gossip from old cats».

Gerald looked mournfully at his daughter.

«It’s blackmail. Anyway, we’ll forget all that. And do you think Miss Pittypat has any brandy in the house?»

Chapter IX

The war went on. Confederate money dropped alarmingly and the price of food and clothing rose accordingly. The Yankee blockade about the Confederate ports tightened, and luxuries such as tea, coffee, silks, whalebone stays, fashion magazines and books were scarce and dear. The hospitals were worrying about the scarcity of quinine, calomel, opium, chloroform and iodine. Linen and cotton bandages were precious, and ladies who nursed at the hospitals brought home baskets of bloody strips, They washed and ironed and returned them.

But Scarlett was happy to be in the world again. She did not care