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His somber gaze went past her and in his eyes was the same look she had seen in the light of the flames the night Atlanta fell； when he told her he was going off with the retreating army—the surprise of a man who knows himself utterly； yet discovers in himself unexpected loyalties and emotions and feels a faint self…ridicule at the discovery。
His moody eyes went over her shoulder as though he saw Melanie silently passing through the room to the door。 In the look of farewell on his face there was no sorrow； no pain； only a speculative wonder at himself； only a poignant stirring of emotions dead since boyhood； as he said again： “A very great lady。”
Scarlett shivered and the glow went from her heart； the fine warmth； the splendor which had sent her home on winged feet。 She half…grasped what was in Rhett’s mind as he said farewell to the only person in the world he respected and she was desolate again with a terrible sense of loss that was no longer personal。 She could not wholly understand or analyze what he was feeling； but it seemed almost as if she too had been brushed by whispering skirts； touching her softly in a last caress。 She was seeing through Rhett’s eyes the passing； not of a woman but of a legend—the gentle； self…effacing but steel…spined women on whom the South had builded its house in war and to whose proud and loving arms it had returned in defeat
His eyes came back to her and his voice changed。 Now it was light and cool。
“So she’s dead。 That makes it nice for you； doesn’t it？”
“Oh； how can you say such things；” she cried； stung； the quick tears coming to her eyes。 “You know how I loved her！”
“No； I can’t say I did。 Most unexpected and it’s to your credit； considering your passion for white trash； that you could appreciate her at last。”
“How can you talk so？ Of course I appreciated her！ You didn’t。 You didn’t know her like I did！ It isn’t in you to understand her—how good she was—”
“Indeed？ Perhaps not。”
“She thought of everybody except herself—why； her last words were about you。”
There was a flash of genuine feeling in his eyes as he turned to her。
“What did she say？”
“Oh； not now； Rhett。”
“Tell me。”
His voice was cool but the hand he put on her wrist hurt。 She did not want to tell； this was not the way she had intended to lead up to the subject of her love but his hand was urgent。
“She said—she said— ‘Be kind to Captain Butler。 He loves you so much。’ ”
He stared at her and dropped her wrist。 His eyelids went down； leaving his face dark and blank。 Suddenly he rose and going to the window； he drew the curtains and looked out intently as if there were something to see outside except blinding mist。
“Did she say anything else？” he questioned； not turning his head。
“She asked me to take care of little Beau and I said I would； like he was my own boy。”
“What else？”
“She said—Ashley—she asked me to look after Ashley； too。”
He was silent for a moment and then he laughed softly。
“It’s convenient to have the first wife’s permission； isn’t it？”
“What do you mean？”
He turned and even in her confusion she was surprised that there was no mockery in his face。 Nor was there any more interest in it than in the face of a man watching the last act of a none…too…amusing comedy。
“I think my meaning’s plain enough。 Miss Melly is dead。 You certainly have all the evidence you want to divorce me and you haven’t enough reputation left for a divorce to hurt you。 And you haven’t any religion left； so the Church won’t matter。 Then—Ashley and dreams come true with the blessings of Miss Melly。”
“Divorce？” she cried。 “No！ No！” Incoherent for a moment she leaped to her feet and running to him caught his arm。 “Oh； you’re all wrong！ Terribly wrong。 I don’t want a divorce— I—” She stopped for she could find no other words。
He put his hand under her chin； quietly turned her face up to the light and looked for an intent moment into her eyes。 She looked up at him； her heart in her eyes； her lips quivering as she tried to speak。 But she could marshal no words because she was trying to find in his face some answering emotions； some leaping light of hope； of joy。 Surely he must know； now！ But the smooth dark blankness which had baffled her so often was all that her frantic； searching eyes could find。 He dropped her chin and； turning； walked back to his chair and sprawled tiredly again； his chin on his breast； his eyes looking up at her from under black brows in an impersonal speculative way。
She followed him back to his chair； her hands twisting； and stood before him。
“You are wrong；” she began again； finding words。 “Rhett tonight； when I knew； I ran every step of the way home to tell you。 Oh； darling； I—”
“You are tired；” he said； still watching her。 “You’d better go to bed。”
“But I must tell you！”
“Scarlett；” he said heavily； “I don’t want to hear—anything。”
“But you don’t know what I’m going to say！”
“My pet； it’s written plainly on your face。 Something； someone has made you realize that the unfortunate Mr。 Wilkes is too large a mouthful of Dead Sea fruit for even you to chew。 And that same something has suddenly set my charms before you in a new and attractive light；” he sighed slightly。 “And it’s no use to talk about it。”
She drew a sharp surprised breath。 Of course； he had always read her easily。 Heretofore she had resented it but now； after the first shock at her own transparency； her heart rose with gladness and relief。 He knew； he understood and her task was miraculously made easy。 No use to talk about it！ Of course he was bitter at her long neglect； of course he was mistrustful of her sudden turnabout。 She would have to woo him with kindness； convince him with a rich outpouring of love； and what a pleasure it would be to do it！
“Darling； I’m going to tell you everything；” she said； putting her hands on the arm of his chair and leaning down to him。 “I’ve been so wrong； such a stupid fool—”
“Scarlett； don’t go on with this。 Don’t be humble before me。 I can’t bear it。 Leave us some dignity； some reticence to remember out of our marriage。 Spare us this last。”
She straightened up abruptly。 Spare us this last？ What did he mean by “this last”？ Last？ This was their first； their beginning。
“But I will tell you；” she began rapidly； as if fearing his hand upon her mouth； silencing her。 “Oh； Rhett； I love you so； darling！ I must have loved you for years and I was such a fool I didn’t know it。 Rhett； you must believe me！”
He looked at her； standing before him； for a moment； a long look that went to the back of her mind。 She saw there was belief in his eyes but little interest。 Oh； was he going to be mean； at this of all times？ To torment her； pay her back in her own coin？
“Oh； I believe you；” he said at last “But what of Ashley Wilkes？”
“Ashley！” she said； and made an impatient gesture。 “I—I don’t believe I’ve cared anything about him for ages。 It was—wen； a sort of habit I hung onto from when I was a little girl。 Rhett； I’d never even thought I cared about him if I’d ever known what he was really like。