飘

had　to　avenge　you。　If　he　had　married　Sister　Sue；　she　might　not　have　caused　his　death　but　she’d　probably　have　made　him　twice　as　unhappy　as　you　did。　It　couldn’t　have　happened　differently。”
　“But　I　could　have　been　nicer　to　him。”
　“You　could　have　been—if　you’d　been　somebody　else。　But　you　were　born　to　bully　anyone　who’ll　let　you　do　it。　The　strong　were　made　to　bully　and　the　weak　to　knuckle　under。　It’s　all　Frank’s　fault　for　not　beating　you　with　a　buggy　whip。　。。。　I’m　surprised　at　you；　Scarlett；　for　sprouting　a　conscience　this　late　in　life。　Opportunists　like　you　shouldn’t　have　them。”
　“What　is　an　oppor—what　did　you　call　it？”
　“A　person　who　takes　advantage　of　opportunities。”
　“Is　that　wrong？”
　“It　has　always　been　held　in　disrepute—especially　by　those　who　had　the　same　opportunities　and　didn’t　take　them。”
　“Oh；　Rhett；　you　are　joking　and　I　thought　you　were　going　to　be　nice！”
　“I　am　being　nice—for　me。　Scarlett；　darling；　you　are　tipsy。　That’s　what’s　the　matter　with　you。”
　“You　dare—”
　“Yes；　I　dare。　You　are　on　the　verge　of　what　is　vulgarly　called　a　‘crying　jag’　and　so　I　shall　change　the　subject　and　cheer　you　up　by　telling　you　some　news　that　will　amuse　you。　In　fact；　that’s　why　I　came　here　this　evening；　to　tell　you　my　news　before　I　went　away。”
　“Where　are　you　going？”
　“To　England　and　I　may　be　gone　for　months。　Forget　your　conscience；　Scarlett。　I　have　no　intention　of　discussing　your　soul’s　welfare　any　further。　Don’t　you　want　to　hear　my　news？”
　“But—”　she　began　feebly　and　paused。　Between　the　brandy　which　was　smoothing　out　the　harsh　contours　of　remorse　and　Rhett’s　mocking　but　comforting　words；　the　pale　specter　of　Frank　was　receding　into　shadows。　Perhaps　Rhett　was　right。　Perhaps　God　did　understand。　She　recovered　enough　to　push　the　idea　from　the　top　of　her　mind　and　decide：　“I’ll　think　about　it　all　tomorrow。”
　“What’s　your　news？”　she　said　with　an　effort；　blowing　her　nose　on　his　handkerchief　and　pushing　back　the　hair　that　had　begun　to　straggle。
　“My　news　is　this；”　he　answered；　grinning　down　at　her。　“I　still　want　you　more　than　any　woman　I’ve　ever　seen　and　now　that　Frank’s　gone；　I　thought　you’d　be　interested　to　know　it。”
　Scarlett　jerked　her　hands　away　from　his　grasp　and　sprang　to　her　feet。
　“I—you　are　the　most　ill…bred　man　in　the　world；　coming　here　at　this　time　of　all　times　with　your　filthy—I　should　have　known　you’d　never　change。　And　Frank　hardly　cold！　If　you　had　any　decency—　Will　you　leave　this—”
　“Do　be　quiet　or　you’ll　have　Miss　Pittypat　down　here　in　a　minute；”　he　said；　not　rising　but　reaching　up　and　taking　both　her　fists。　“I’m　afraid　you　miss　my　point。”
　“Miss　your　point？　I　don’t　miss　anything。”　She　pulled　against　his　grip。　“Turn　me　loose　and　get　out　of　here。　I　never　heard　of　such　bad　taste。　I—”
　“Hush；”　he　said。　“I　am　asking　you　to　marry　me。　Would　you　be　convinced　if　I　knelt　down？”
　She　said　“Oh”　breathlessly　and　sat　down　hard　on　the　sofa。
　She　stared　at　him；　her　mouth　open；　wondering　if　the　brandy　were　playing　tricks　on　her　mind；　remembering　senselessly　his　jibing：　“My　dear；　I’m　not　a　marrying　man。”　She　was　drunk　or　he　was　crazy。　But　he　did　not　look　crazy。　He　looked　as　calm　as　though　he　were　discussing　the　weather；　and　his　smooth　drawl　fell　on　her　ears　with　no　particular　emphasis。
　“I　always　intended　having　you；　Scarlett；　since　that　first　day　I　saw　you　at　Twelve　Oaks　when　you　threw　that　vase　and　swore　and　proved　that　you　weren’t　a　lady。　I　always　intended　having　you；　one　way　or　another。　But　as　you　and　Frank　have　made　a　little　money；　I　know　you’ll　never　be　driven　to　me　again　with　any　interesting　propositions　of　loans　and　collaterals。　So　I　see　I’ll　have　to　marry　you。”
　“Rhett　Butler；　is　this　one　of　your　vile　jokes？”
　“I　bare　my　soul　and　you　are　suspicious！　No；　Scarlett；　this　is　a　bona　fide　honorable　declaration。　I　admit　that　it’s　not　in　the　best　of　taste；　coming　at　this　time；　but　I　have　a　very　good　excuse　for　my　lack　of　breeding。　I’m　going　away　tomorrow　for　a　long　time　and　I　fear　that　if　I　wait　till　I　return　you’ll　have　married　some　one　else　with　a　little　money。　So　I　thought；　why　not　me　and　my　money？　Really；　Scarlett；　I　can’t　go　all　my　life；　waiting　to　catch　you　between　husbands。”
　He　meant　it。　There　was　no　doubt　about　it。　Her　mouth　was　dry　as　she　assimilated　this　knowledge　and　she　swallowed　and　looked　into　his　eyes；　trying　to　find　some　clue。　They　were　full　of　laughter　but　there　was　something　else；　deep　in　them；　which　she　had　never　seen　before；　a　gleam　that　defied　analysis。　He　sat　easily；　carelessly　but　she　felt　that　he　was　watching　her　as　alertly　as　a　cat　watches　a　mouse　hole。　There　was　a　sense　of　leashed　power　straining　beneath　his　calm　that　made　her　draw　back；　a　little　frightened。
　He　was　actually　asking　her　to　marry　him；　he　was　committing　the　incredible。　Once　she　had　planned　how　she　would　torment　him　should　he　ever　propose。　Once　she　had　thought　that　if　he　ever　spoke　those　words　she　would　humble　him　and　make　him　feel　her　power　and　take　a　malicious　pleasure　in　doing　it。　Now；　he　had　spoken　and　the　plans　did　not　even　occur　to　her；　for　he　was　no　more　in　her　power　than　he　had　ever　been。　In　fact；　he　held　the　whip　hand　of　the　situation　so　completely　that　she　was　as　flustered　as　a　girl　at　her　first　proposal　and　she　could　only　blush　and　stammer。
　“I—I　shall　never　marry　again。”
　“Oh；　yes；　you　will。　You　were　born　to　be　married。　Why　not　me？”
　“But　Rhett；　I—I　don’t　love　you。”
　“That　should　be　no　drawback。　I　don’t　recall　that　love　was　prominent　in　your　other　two　ventures。”
　“Oh；　how　can　you？　You　know　I　was　fond　of　Frank！”
　He　said　nothing。
　“I　was！　I　was！”
　“Well；　we　won’t　argue　that。　Will　you　think　over　my　proposition　while　I’m　gone？”
　“Rhett；　I　don’t　like　for　things　to　drag　on。　I’d　rather　tell　you　now。　I’m　going　home　to　Tara　soon　and　India　Wilkes　will　stay　with　Aunt　Pittypat。　I　want　to　go　home　for　a　long　spell　and—I—I　don’t　ever　want　to　get　married　again。”
　“Nonsense。　Why？”
　“Oh；　well—never　mind　why。　I　just　don’t　like　being　married。”
　“But；　my　poor　child；　you’ve　never　really；　been　married。　How　can　you　know？　I’ll　admit　you’ve　had　bad　luck—once　for　spite　and　once　for　money。　Did　you　ever　think　of　marrying—just　for　the　fun　of　it？”
　“Fun！　Don’t　talk　like　a　fool。　There’s　no　fun　being　married。”
　“No？　Why　not？”
　A　measure　of　calm　had　returned　and　with　it　all　the　natural　bluntness　which　brandy　brought　to　the　surface。
　“It’s　fun　for　men—though　God　knows　why。　I　never　could　understand　it。　But　all　a　woman　gets　out　of　it　is　something　to　eat　and　a　lot　of　work　and　having　to　put　up　with　a　man’s　foolishness—and　a　baby　every　year。”
　He　laughed　so　loudly　that　the　sound　echoed　in　the　stillness　and　Scarlett　heard　the　kitchen　door　open。
　“Hush！　Mammy　has　ears　like　a　lynx　and　it　isn’t　decent　to　laugh　so　soon　after—hush　laughing。　You　know　it’s　true。　Fun！　Fiddle…dee…dee！”
　“I　said　you’d　had　bad　luck　and　what　you’ve　just　said　proves　it。　You’ve　been　married　to　a　boy　and　to　an　old　man。　And　into　the　bargain　I’ll　bet　your　mother　told　you　that　women　must　bear　these　things’　because　of　the　compensating　joys　of　motherhood。　Well；　that’s　all　wrong。　Why　not　try　marrying　a　fine　young　man　who　has　a　bad　reputation　and　a　way　with　women？　It’ll　be　fun。”
　“You　are　coarse　and　conceited　and　I　think　this　conversation　has　gone　far　enough。　It’s—it’s　quite　vulgar。”
　“And　quite　enjoyable；　too；　isn’t　it？　I’ll　wager　you　never　discussed　the　marital　relation　with　a　man　before；　even　Charles　or　Frank。”
　She　scowled　at　him。　Rhett　knew　too　much。　She　wondered　where　he　had　learned　all　he　knew　about　women。　It　wasn’t　decent
　“Don’t　frown。　Name　the　day；　Scarlett。　I’m　not　urging　instant　matrimony　because　of　your　reputation。　We’ll　wait　the　decent　interval。　By　the　way；　just　how　long　is　a　‘decent　interval’？”
　“I　haven’t　said　I’d　marry　you。　It　isn’t　decent　to　even　talk　of　such　things　at　such　a　time。”
　“I’ve　told　you　why　I’m　talking　of　them。　I’m　going　away　tomorrow　and　I’m　too　ardent　a　lover　to　restrain　my　passion　any　longer。　But　perhaps　I’ve　been　too　precipitate　in　my　wooing。”
　With　a　suddenness　that　startled　her；　he　slid　off　the　sofa　onto　his　knees　and　with　one　hand　placed　delicately　over　his　heart；　he　recited　rapidly：
　“Forgive　me　for　startling　you　with　the　impetuosity　of　my　sentiments；　my　dear　Scarlett—I　mean；　my　dear　Mrs。　Kennedy。　It　cannot　have　escaped　your　notice　that　for　some　time　past　the　friendship　I　have　had　in　my　heart　for　you　has　ripened　into　a　deeper　feeling；　a　feeling　more　beautiful；　more　pure；　more　sacred。　Dare　I　name　it　you？　Ah！　It　is　love　which　makes　me　so　bold！”
　“Do　get　up；”　she　entreated。　“You　look　such　a　fool　and　suppose　Mammy　should　come　in　and　see　you？”
　“She　would　be　stunned　and　incredulous　at　the　first　signs　of　my　gentility；”　said　Rhett；　arising　lightly。　“Come；　Scarlett；　you　are　no　child；　no　schoolgirl　to　put　me　off　with　foolish　excuses　about　decency　and　so　forth。　Say　you’ll　marry　me　when　I　come　back　or；　before　God；　I　won’t　go。　I’ll　stay　around　here　and　play　a　guitar　under　your　window　every　night　and　sing　at　the　top　of　my　voice　and　compromise　you；　so　you’ll　have　to　marry　me　to　save　your　reputatio