飘

scurity。
　There　was　never　any　knowing　when　be　would　remark　affably；　over　a　punch　cup：　“Ralph；　if　I’d　had　any　sense　I’d　have　made　my　money　selling　gold…mine　stocks　to　widows　and　orphans；　like　you；　instead　of　blockading。　It’s　so　much　safer。”　“Well；　Bill；　I　see　you　have　a　new　span　of　horses。　Been　selling　a　few　thousand　more　bonds　for　nonexistent　railroads？　Good　work；　boy！”　“Congratulations；　Amos；　on　landing　that　state　contract。　Too　bad　you　had　to　grease　so　many　palms　to　get　it。”
　The　ladies　felt　that　he　was　odiously；　unendurably　vulgar。　The　men　said；　behind　his　back；　that　he　was　a　swine　and　a　bastard。　New　Atlanta　liked　Rhett　no　better　than　old　Atlanta　had　done　and　he　made　as　little　attempt　to　conciliate　the　one　as　he　had　the　other。　He　went　his　way；　amused；　contemptuous；　impervious　to　the　opinions　of　those　about　him；　so　courteous　that　his　courtesy　was　an　affront　in　itself。　To　Scarlett；　he　was　still　an　enigma　but　an　enigma　about　which　she　no　longer　bothered　her　head。　She　was　convinced　that　nothing　ever　pleased　him　or　ever　would　please　him　that　he　either　wanted　something　badly　and　didn’t　have　it；　or　never　had　wanted　anything　and　so　didn’t　care　about　anything。　He　laughed　at　everything　she　did；　encouraged　her　extravagances　and　insolences；　jeered　at　her　pretenses—and　paid　the　bills。
　
　CHAPTER　L
　RHETT　NEVER　DEVIATED　from　his　smooth；　imperturbable　manners；　even　in　their　most　intimate　moments。　But　Scarlett　never　lost　the　old　feeling　that　he　was　watching　her　covertly；　knew　that　if　she　turned　her　head　suddenly　she　would　surprise　in　his　eyes　that　speculative；　waiting　look；　that　look　of　almost　terrible　patience　that　she　did　not　understand。
　Sometimes；　he　was　a　very　comfortable　person　to　live　with；　for　all　his　unfortunate　habit　of　not　permitting　anyone　in　his　presence　to　act　a　lie；　palm　off　a　pretense　or　indulge　in　bombast。　He　listened　to　her　talk　of　the　store　and　the　mills　and　the　saloon；　the　convicts　and　the　cost　of　feeding　them；　and　gave　shrewd　hard…headed　advice。　He　had　untiring　energy　for　the　dancing　and　parties　she　loved　and　an　unending　supply　of　coarse　stories　with　which　he　regaled　her　on　their　infrequent　evenings　alone　when　the　table　was　cleared　and　brandy　and　coffee　before　them。　She　found　that　he　would　give　her　anything　she　desired；　answer　any　question　she　asked　as　long　as　she　was　forthright；　and　refuse　her　anything　she　attempted　to　gain　by　indirection；　hints　and　feminine　angling。　He　had　a　disconcerting　habit　of　seeing　through　her　and　laughing　rudely。
　Contemplating　the　suave　indifference　with　which　he　generally　treated　her；　Scarlett　frequently　wondered；　but　with　no　real　curiosity；　why　he　had　married　her。　Men　married　for　love　or　a　home　and　children　or　money　but　she　knew　he　had　married　her　for　none　of　these　things。　He　certainly　did　not　love　her。　He　referred　to　her　lovely　house　as　an　architectural　horror　and　said　he　would　rather　live　in　a　well…regulated　hotel　than　a　home。　And　he　never　once　hinted　about　children　as　Charles　and　Frank　had　done。　Once　when　trying　to　coquet　with　him　she　asked　why　he　married　her　and　was　infuriated　when　he　replied　with　an　amused　gleam　in　his　eyes：　“I　married　you　to　keep　you　for　a　pet；　my　dear。”
　No；　he　hadn’t　married　her　for　any　of　the　usual　reasons　men　marry　women。　He　had　married　her　solely　because　he　wanted　her　and　couldn’t　get　her　any　other　way。　He　had　admitted　as　much　the　night　he　proposed　to　her。　He　had　wanted　her；　just　as　he　had　wanted　Belle　Watling。　This　was　not　a　pleasant　thought　In　fact　it　was　a　barefaced　insult。　But　she　shrugged　it　off　as　she　had　learned　to　shrug　off　all　unpleasant　facts。　They　had　made　a　bargain　and　she　was　quite　pleased　with　her　side　of　the　bargain。　She　hoped　he　was　equally　pleased　but　she　did　not　care　very　much　whether　he　was　or　not。
　But　one　afternoon　when　she　was　consulting　Dr。　Meade　about　a　digestive　upset；　she　learned　an　unpleasant　fact　which　she　could　not　shrug　off。　It　was　with　real　hate　in　her　eyes　that　she　stormed　into　her　bedroom　at　twilight　and　told　Rhett　that　she　was　going　to　have　a　baby。
　He　was　lounging　in　a　silk　dressing　gown　in　a　cloud　of　smoke　and　his　eyes　went　sharply　to　her　face　as　she　spoke。　But　he　said　nothing。　He　watched　her　in　silence　but　there　was　a　tenseness　about　his　pose；　as　he　waited　for　her　next　words；　that　was　lost　on　her。　Indignation　and　despair　had　claimed　her　to　the　exclusion　of　all　other　thoughts。
　“You　know　I　don’t　want　any　more　children！　I　never　wanted　any　at　all。　Every　time　things　are　going　right　with　me　I　have　to　have　a　baby。　Oh；　don’t　sit　there　and　laugh！　You　don’t　want　it　either。　Oh；　Mother　of　God！”
　If　he　was　waiting　for　words　from　her；　these　were　not　the　words　he　wanted。　His　face　hardened　slightly　and　his　eyes　became　blank。
　“Well；　why　not　give　it　to　Miss　Melly？　Didn’t　you　tell　me　she　was　so　misguided　as　to　want　another　baby？”
　“Oh；　I　could　kill　you！　I　won’t　have　it；　I　tell　you；　I　won’t！”
　“No？　Pray　continue。”
　“Oh；　there　are　things　to　do。　I’m　not　the　stupid　country　fool　I　used　to　be。　Now；　I　know　that　a　woman　doesn’t　have　to　have　children　if　she　doesn’t　want　them！　There　are　things—”
　He　was　on　his　feet　and　had　her　by　the　wrist　and　there　was　a　hard；　driving　fear　in　his　face。
　“Scarlett；　you　fool；　tell　me　the　truth！　You　haven’t　done　anything？”
　“No；　I　haven’t；　but　I’m　going　to。　Do　you　think　I’m　going　to　have　my　figure　ruined　all　over　again；　just　when　I’ve　gotten　my　waist　line　down　and　am　having　a　good　time。”
　“Where　did　you　get　this　idea？　Who’s　been　telling　you　things？”
　“Mamie　Bart—she—”
　The　madam　of　a　whore　house　would　know　such　tricks。　That　woman　never　puts　foot　in　this　house　again；　do　you　understand？　After　all；　it　is　my　house　and　I’m　the　master　of　it。　I　do　not　even　want　you　to　speak　to　her　again。”
　“I’ll　do　as　I　please。　Turn　me　loose。　Why　should　you　care？”
　“I　don’t　care　whether　you　have　one　child　or　twenty；　but　I　do　care　if　you　die。”
　“Die？　Me？”
　“Yes；　die。　I　don’t　suppose　Mamie　Bart　told　you　the　chances　a　woman　takes　when　she　does　a　thing　like　that？”
　“No；”　said　Scarlett　reluctantly。　“She　just　said　it　would　fix　things　up　fine。”
　“By　God；　I　will　kill　her！”　cried　Rhett　and　his　face　was　black　with　rage。　He　looked　down　into　Scarlett’s　tear…stained　face　and　some　of　the　wrath　faded　but　it　was　still　hard　and　set。　Suddenly　he　picked　her　up　in　his　arms　and　sat　down　in　the　chair；　holding　her　close　to　him；　tightly；　as　if　he　feared　she　would　get　away　from　him。
　“Listen；　my　baby；　I　won’t　have　you　take　your　life　in　your　hands。　Do　you　hear？　Good　God；　I　don’t　want　children　any　more　than　you　do；　but　I　can　support　them。　I　don’t　want　to　hear　any　more　foolishness　out　of　you；　and　if　you　dare　try　to—Scarlett；　I　saw　a　girl　die　that　way　once。　She　was　only　a—well；　but　she　was　a　pretty　sort　at　that。　It’s　not　an　easy　way　to　die。　I—”
　“Why；　Rhett！”　she　cried；　startled　out　of　her　misery　at　the　emotion　in　his　voice。　She　had　never　seen　him　so　moved。　“Where—who—”
　“In　New　Orleans—oh；　years　ago。　I　was　young　and　impressionable。”　He　bent　his　head　suddenly　and　buried　his　lips　in　her　hair。　“You’ll　have　your　baby；　Scarlett；　if　I　have　to　handcuff　you　to　my　wrist　for　the　next　nine　months。”
　She　sat　up　in　his　lap　and　stared　into　his　face　with　frank　curiosity。　Under　her　gaze　it　was　suddenly　smooth　and　bland　as　though　wiped　clear　by　magic。　His　eyebrows　were　up　and　the　corner　of　his　mouth　was　down。
　“Do　I　mean　so　much　to　you？”　she　questioned；　dropping　her　eyelids。
　He　gave　her　a　level　look　as　though　estimating　how　much　coquetry　was　behind　the　question。　Reading　the　true　meaning　of　her　demeanor；　he　made　casual　answer。
　“Well；　yes。　You　see；　I’ve　invested　a　good　deal　of　money　in　you；　and　I’d　hate　to　lose　it。”
　
　？
　Melanie　came　out　of　Scarlett’s　room；　weary　from　the　strain　but　happy　to　tears　at　the　birth　of　Scarlett’s　daughter。　Rhett　stood　tensely　in　the　hall；　surrounded　by　cigar　butts　which　had　burned　holes　in　the　fine　carpet
　“You　can　go　in　now；　Captain　Butler；”　she　said　shyly。
　Rhett　went　swiftly　past　her　into　the　room　and　Melanie　had　a　brief　glimpse　of　him　bending　over　the　small　naked　baby　in　Mammy’s　lap　before　Dr。　Meade　shut　the　door。　Melanie　sank　into　a　chair；　her　face　pinkening　with　embarrassment　that　she　had　unintentionally　witnessed　so　intimate　a　scene。
　“Ah！”　she　thought　“How　sweet！　How　worried　poor　Captain　Butler　has　been！　And　he　did　not　take　a　single　drink　all　this　time！　How　nice　of　him。　So　many　gentlemen　are　so　intoxicated　by　the　time　their　babies　are　born。　I　fear　he　needs　a　drink　badly。　Dare　I　suggest　it？　No；　that　would　be　very　forward　of　me。”
　She　sank　gratefully　into　a　chair；　her　back；　which　always　ached　these　days；　feeling　as　though　it　would　break　in　two　at　the　waist　line。　Oh；　how　fortunate　Scarlett　was　to　have　Captain　Butler　just　outside　her　door　while　the　baby　was　being　born！　If　only　she　had　had　Ashley　with　her　that　dreadful　day　Beau　came　she　would　not　have　suffered　half　so　much。　If　only　that　small　girl　behind　those　closed　doors　were　hers　and　not　Scarlett’s！　Oh；　how　wicked　I　am；　she　thought　guiltily。　I　am　coveting　her　baby　and　Scarlett　has　been　so　good　to　me。　Forgive　me；　Lord。　I　wouldn’t　really　want　Scarlett’s　baby　but—but　I　would　so　like　a　baby　of　my　own！
　She　pushed　a　small　cushio