飘

　“What　is　it；　Ma’m？”　His　voice　had　a　strange　mid…Western　twang　but　it　was　polite　and　respectful。
　“I　want　to　see　a　man　in　there—he　is　a　prisoner。”
　“Well；　I　don’t　know；”　said　the　sentry；　scratching　his　head。　“They　are　mighty　particular　about　visitors　and—”　He　stopped　and　peered　into　her　face　sharply。　“Lord；　lady！　Don’t　you　cry！　You　go　over　to　post　headquarters　and　ask　the　officers。　They’ll　let　you　see　him；　I　bet。”
　Scarlett；　who　had　no　intention　of　crying；　beamed　at　him。　He　turned　to　another　sentry　who　was　slowly　pacing　his　beat：　“Yee…ah；　Bill。　Come’eer。”
　The　second　sentry；　a　large　man　muffled　in　a　blue　overcoat　from　which　villainous　black　whiskers　burst；　came　through　the　mud　toward　them。
　“You　take　this　lady　to　headquarters。”
　Scarlett　thanked　him　and　followed　the　sentry。
　“Mind　you　don’t　turn　your　ankle　on　those　stepping　stones；”　said　the　soldier；　taking　her　arm。　“And　you’d　better　hist　up　your　skirts　a　little　to　keep　them　out　of　the　mud。”
　The　voice　issuing　from　the　whiskers　had　the　same　nasal　twang　but　was　kind　and　pleasant　and　his　hand　was　firm　and　respectful。　Why；　Yankees　weren’t　bad　at　all！
　“It’s　a　mighty　cold　day　for　a　lady　to　be　out　in；”　said　her　escort。　“Have　you　come　a　fer　piece？”
　“Oh；　yes；　from　clear　across　the　other　side　of　town；”　she　said；　warming　to　the　kindness　in　his　voice。
　“This　ain’t　no　weather　for　a　lady　to　be　out　in；”　said　the　soldier　reprovingly；　“with　all　this　la　grippe　in　the　air。　Here’s　Post　Command；　lady—　What’s　the　matter？”
　“This　house—this　house　is　your　headquarters？”　Scarlett　looked　up　at　the　lovely　old　dwelling　facing　on　the　square　and　could　have　cried。　She　had　been　to　so　many　parties　in　this　house　during　the　war。　It　had　been　a　gay　beautiful　place　and　now—there　was　a　large　United　States　flag　floating　over　it。
　“What’s　the　matter？”
　“Nothing—only—only—I　used　to　know　the　people　who　lived　here。”
　“Well；　that’s　too　bad。　I　guess　they　wouldn’t　know　it　themselves　if　they　saw　it；　for　it　shore　is　torn　up　on　the　inside。　Now；　you　go　on　in；　Ma’m；　and　ask　for　the　captain。”
　She　went　up　the　steps；　caressing　the　broken　white　banisters；　and　pushed　open　the　front　door。　The　hall　was　dark　and　as　cold　as　a　vault　and　a　shivering　sentry　was　leaning　against　the　closed　folding　doors　of　what　had　been；　in　better　days；　the　dining　room。
　“I　want　to　see　the　captain；”　she　said。
　He　pulled　back　the　doors　and　she　entered　the　room；　her　heart　beating　rapidly；　her　face　flushing　with　embarrassment　and　excitement。　There　was　a　close　stuffy　smell　in　the　room；　compounded　of　the　smoking　fire；　tobacco　fames；　leather；　damp　woolen　uniforms　and　unwashed　bodies。　She　had　a　confused　impression　of　bare　walls　with　torn　wallpaper；　rows　of　blue　overcoats　and　slouch　hats　hung　on　nails；　a　roaring　fire；　a　long　table　covered　with　papers　and　a　group　of　officers　in　blue　uniforms　with　brass　buttons。
　She　gulped　once　and　found　her　voice。　She　mustn’t　let　these　Yankees　know　she　was　afraid。　She　must　look　and　be　her　prettiest　and　most　unconcerned　self。　“The　captain？”
　“I’m　one　captain；”　said　a　fat　man　whose　tunic　was　unbuttoned。
　“I　want　to　see　a　prisoner；　Captain　Rhett　Butler。”
　“Butler　again？　He’s　popular；　that　man；”　laughed　the　captain；　taking　a　chewed　cigar　from　his　mouth。　“You　a　relative；　Ma’m？”
　“Yes—his—his　sister。”
　He　laughed　again。
　“He’s　got　a　lot　of　sisters；　one　of　them　here　yesterday。”
　Scarlett　flushed。　One　of　those　creatures　Rhett　consorted　with；　probably　that　Watling　woman。　And　these　Yankees　thought　she　was　another　one。　It　was　unendurable。　Not　even　for　Tara　would　she　stay　here　another　minute　and　be　insulted。　She　turned　to　the　door　and　reached　angrily　for　the　knob　but　another　officer　was　by　her　side　quickly。　He　was　clean　shaven　and　young　and　had　merry；　kind　eyes。
　“Just　a　minute；　Ma’m。　Won’t　you　sit　down　here　by　the　fire　where　it’s　warm？　I’ll　go　see　what　I　can　do　about　it。　What　is　your　name？　He　refused　to　see　the—lady　who　called　yesterday。”
　She　sank　into　the　proffered　chair；　glaring　at　the　discomfited　fat　captain；　and　gave　her　name。　The　nice　young　officer　slipped　on　his　overcoat　and　left　the　room　and　the　others　took　themselves　off　to　the　far　end　of　the　table　where　they　talked　in　low　tones　and　pawed　at　the　papers。　She　stretched　her　feet　gratefully　toward　the　fire；　realizing　for　the　first　time　how　cold　they　were　and　wishing　she　had　thought　to　put　a　piece　of　cardboard　over　the　hole　in　the　sole　of　one　slipper。　After　a　time；　voices　murmured　outside　the　door　and　she　heard　Rhett’s　laugh。　The　door　opened；　a　cold　draft　swept　the　room　and　Rhett　appeared；　hatless；　a　long　cape　thrown　carelessly　across　his　shoulders。　He　was　dirty　and　unshaven　and　without　a　cravat　but　somehow　jaunty　despite　his　dishabille；　and　his　dark　eyes　were　snapping　joyfully　at　the　sight　of　her。
　“Scarlett！”
　He　had　her　hands　in　both　of　his　and；　as　always；　there　was　something　hot　and　vital　and　exciting　about　his　grip。　Before　she　quite　knew　what　he　was　about；　he　had　bent　and　kissed　her　cheek；　his　mustache　tickling　her。　As　he　felt　the　startled　movement　of　her　body　away　from　him；　he　hugged　her　about　the　shoulders　and　said：　“My　darling　little　sister！”　and　grinned　down　at　her　as　if　he　relished　her　helplessness　in　resisting　his　caress。　She　couldn’t　help　laughing　back　at　him　for　the　advantage　he　had　taken。　What　a　rogue　he　was！　Jail　had　not　changed　him　one　bit。
　The　fat　captain　was　muttering　through　his　cigar　to　the　merry…eyed　officer。
　“Most　irregular。　He　should　be　in　the　firehouse。　You　know　the　orders。”
　“Oh；　for　God’s　sake；　Henry！　The　lady　would　freeze　in　that　barn。”
　“Oh；　all　right；　all　right！　It’s　your　responsibility。”
　“I　assure　you；　gentlemen；”　said　Rhett；　turning　to　them　but　still　keeping　a　grip　on　Scarlett’s　shoulders；　“my—sister　hasn’t　brought　me　any　saws　or　files　to　help　me　escape。”
　They　all　laughed　and；　as　they　did；　Scarlett　looked　quickly　about　her。　Good　Heavens；　was　she　going　to　have　to　talk　to　Rhett　before　six　Yankee　officers！　Was　he　so　dangerous　a　prisoner　they　wouldn’t　let　him　out　of　their　sight？　Seeing　her　anxious　glance；　the　nice　officer　pushed　open　a　door　and　spoke　brief　low　words　to　two　privates　who　had　leaped　to　their　feet　at　his　entrance。　They　picked　up　their　rifles　and　went　out　into　the　hall；　closing　the　door　behind　them。
　“If　you　wish；　you　may　sit　here　in　the　orderly　room；”　said　the　young　captain；　“And　don’t　try　to　bolt　through　that　door。　The　men　are　just　outside。”
　“You　see　what　a　desperate　character　I　am；　Scarlett；”　said　Rhett　“Thank　you；　Captain。　This　is　most　kind　of　you。”
　He　bowed　carelessly　and　taking　Scarlett’s　arm　pulled　her　to　her　feet　and　propelled　her　into　the　dingy　orderly　room。　She　was　never　to　remember　what　the　room　looked　like　except　that　it　was　small　and　dim　and　none　too　warm　and　there　were　handwritten　papers　tacked　on　the　mutilated　walls　and　chairs　which　had　cowhide　seats　with　the　hair　still　on　them。
　When　he　had　closed　the　door　behind　them。　Rhett　came　to　her　swiftly　and　bent　over　her。　Knowing　his　desire；　she　turned　her　head　quickly　but　smiled　provocatively　at　him　out　of　the　corners　of　her　eyes。
　“Can’t　I　really　kiss　you　now？”
　“On　the　forehead；　like　a　good　brother；”　she　answered　demurely。
　“Thank　you；　no。　I　prefer　to　wait　and　hope　for　better　things。”　His　eyes　sought　her　lips　and　lingered　there　a　moment。　“But　how　good　of　you　to　come　to　see　me；　Scarlett！　You　are　the　first　respectable　citizen　who　has　called　on　me　since　my　incarceration；　and　being　in　jail　makes　one　appreciate　friends。　When　did　you　come　to　town？”
　“Yesterday　afternoon。”
　“And　you　came　out　this　morning？　Why；　my　dear；　you　are　more　than　good。”　He　smiled　down　at　her　with　the　first　expression　of　honest　pleasure　she　had　ever　seen　on　his　face。　Scarlett　smiled　inwardly　with　excitement　and　ducked　her　head　as　if　embarrassed。
　“Of　course；　I　came　out　right　away。　Aunt　Pitty　told　me　about　you　last　night　and　I—I　just　couldn’t　sleep　all　night　for　thinking　how　awful　it　was。　Rhett；　I’m　so　distressed！”
　“Why；　Scarlett！”
　His　voice　was　soft　but　there　was　a　vibrant　note　in　it；　and　looking　up　into　his　dark　face　she　saw　in　it　none　of　the　skepticism；　the　jeering　humor　she　knew　so　well。　Before　his　direct　gaze　her　eyes　fell　again　in　real　confusion。　Things　were　going　even　better　than　she　hoped。
　“It’s　worth　being　in　jail　to　see　you　again　and　to　hear　you　say　things　like　that。　I　really　couldn’t　believe　my　ears　when　they　brought　me　your　name。　You　see；　I　never　expected　you　to　forgive　me　for　my　patriotic　conduct　that　night　on　the　road　near　Rough　and　Ready。　But　I　take　it　that　this　call　means　you　have　forgiven　me？”
　She　could　feel　swift　anger　stir；　even　at　this　late　date；　as　she　thought　of　that　night　but　she　subdued　it　and　tossed　her　head　until　the　earrings　danced。
　“No；　I　haven’t　forgiven　you；”　she　said　and　pouted。
　“Another　hope　crushed。　And　after　I　offered　up　myself　for　my　country　and　fought　barefooted　in　the　snow　at　Franklin　and　got　the　finest　case　of　dysentery　you　ever　heard　of　for　my　pains！”
　“I　don’t　want　to　hear　about　your—pains；”　she　said；　still　pouting　hut　smiling　at　him　from　tip…tilted　eyes。　“I　still　think　you　were　hateful　that　night　and　I　never　expect　to　forgiv