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“I am disappointed in you；” he said。
“Disappointed？”
“Yes。 On the occasion of our first eventful meeting I thought to myself that I had at last met a girl who was not only beautiful but who had courage。 And now I see that you are only beautiful。”
“Do you mean to call me a coward？” She was ruffling like a hen。
“Exactly。 You lack the courage to say what you really think。 When I first met you； I thought： There is a girl in a million。 She isn’t like these other silly little fools who believe everything their mammas tell them and act on it； no matter how they feel。 And conceal all their feelings and desires and little heartbreaks behind a lot of sweet words。 I thought： Miss O’Hara is a girl of rare spirit。 She knows what she wants and she doesn’t mind speaking her mind—or throwing vases。”
“Oh；” she said； rage breaking through。 “Then I’ll speak my mind right this minute。 If you’d had any raising at all you’d never have come over here and talked to me。 You’d have known I never wanted to lay eyes on you again！ But you aren’t a gentleman！ You are just a nasty ill…bred creature！ And you think that because your rotten little boats can outrun the Yankees； you’ve the right to come here and jeer at men who are brave and women who are sacrificing everything for the Cause—”
“Stop； stop—” he begged with a grin。 “You started off very nicely and said what you thought； but don’t begin talking to me about the Cause。 I’m tired of hearing about it and I’ll bet you are； too—”
“Why； how did—” she began； caught off her balance； and then checked herself hastily； boiling with anger at herself for falling into his trap。
“I stood there in the doorway before you saw me and I watched you；” he said。 “And I watched the other girls。 And they all looked as though their faces came out of one mold。 Yours didn’t。 You have an easy face to read。 You didn’t have your mind on your business and I’ll wager you weren’t thinking about our Cause or the hospital。 It was all over your face that you wanted to dance and have a good time and you couldn’t。 So you were mad clean through。 Tell the truth。 Am I not right？”
“I have nothing more to say to you； Captain Butler；” she said as formally as she could； trying to draw the rags of her dignity about her。 “Just because you’re conceited at being the ‘great blockader’ doesn’t give you the right to insult women。”
“The great blockader！ That’s a joke。 Pray give me only one moment more of your precious time before you cast me into darkness。 I wouldn’t want so charming a little patriot to be left under a misapprehension about my contribution to the Confederate Cause。”
“I don’t care to listen to your brags。”
“Blockading is a business with me and I’m making money out of it。 When I stop making money out of it； I’ll quit。 What do you think of that？”
“I think you’re a mercenary rascal—just like the Yankees。”
“Exactly；” he grinned。 “And the Yankees help me make my money。 Why； last month I sailed my boat right into New York harbor and took on a cargo。”
“What！” cried Scarlett； interested and excited in spite of herself。 “Didn’t they shell you？”
“My poor innocent！ Of course not。 There are plenty of sturdy Union patriots who are not averse to picking up money selling goods to the Confederacy。 I run my boat into New York； buy from Yankee firms； sub rosa； of course； and away I go。 And when that gets a bit dangerous； I go to Nassau where these same Union patriots have brought powder and shells and hoop skirts for me。 It’s more convenient than going to England。 Sometimes it’s a bit difficult running it into Charleston or Wilmington—but you’d be surprised how far a little gold goes。”
“Oh； I knew Yankees were vile but I didn’t know—”
“Why quibble about the Yankees earning an honest penny selling out the Union？ It won’t matter in a hundred years。 The result will； be the same。 They know the Confederacy will be licked eventually； so why shouldn’t they cash in on it？”
“Licked—us？”
“Of course。”
“Will you please leave me—or will it be necessary for me to call my carriage and go home to get rid of you？”
“A red…hot little Rebel；” he said； with another sudden grin。 He bowed and sauntered off； leaving her with her bosom heaving with impotent rage and indignation。 There was disappointment burning in her that she could not quite analyze； the disappointment of a child seeing illusions crumble。 How dared he take the glamour from the blockaders！ And how dared he say the Confederacy would be licked！ He should be shot for that—shot like a traitor。 She looked about the hall at the familiar faces； so assured of success； so brave； so devoted； and somehow a cold little chill set in at her heart Licked？ These people—why； of course not！ The very idea was impossible； disloyal。
“What were you two whispering about？” asked Melanie； turning to Scarlett as her customers drifted off。 “I couldn’t help seeing that Mrs。 Merriwether had her eye on you all the time and； dear； you know how she talks。”
“Oh； the man’s impossible—an ill…bred boor；” said Scarlett。 “And as for old lady Merriwether； let her talk。 I’m sick of acting like a ninny； just for her benefit。”
“Why； Scarlett！” cried Melanie； scandalized。
“Sh…sh；” said Scarlett。 “Dr。 Meade is going to make another announcement。”
The gathering quieted again as the doctor raised his voice； at first in thanks to the ladies who had so willingly given their jewelry。
“And now； ladies and gentlemen； I am going to propose a surprise—an innovation that may shock some of you； but I ask you to remember that all this is done for the hospital and for the benefit of our boys lying there。”
Everyone edged forward； in anticipation； trying to imagine what the sedate doctor could propose that would be shocking。
“The dancing is about to begin and the first number will； of course； be a reel； followed by a waltz。 The dances following； the polkas； the schottisches； the mazurkas； will be preceded by short reels。 I know the gentle rivalry to lead the reels very well and so—” The doctor mopped his brow and cast a quizzical glance at the corner； where his wife sat among the chaperons。 “Gentlemen； if you wish to lead a reel with the lady of your choice； you must bargain for her。 I will be auctioneer and the proceeds will go to the hospital。”
Fans stopped in mid…swish and a ripple of excited murmuring ran through the hall。 The chaperons’ corner was in tumult and Mrs。 Meade； anxious to support her husband in an action of which she heartily disapproved； was at a disadvantage。 Mrs。 Elsing； Mrs。 Merriwether and Mrs。 Whiting were red with indignation。 But suddenly the Home Guard gave a cheer and it was taken up by the other uniformed guests。 The young girls clapped their hands and jumped excitedly。
“Don’t you think it’s—it’s just—just a little like a slave auction？” whispered Melanie； staring uncertainly at the embattled doctor who heretofore had been perfect in her eyes。
Scarlett said nothing but her eyes glittered and her heart contracted with a little pain。 If only she were not a widow。 If only she were Scarlett O’Hara again； out there