I always remembered you and wondered what you were doing."

For a moment she was indignant that he should say other women were

prettier, more clever and kind than she, but that momentary flare

was wiped out in her pleasure that he had remembered her and her

charm. So he hadn't forgotten! That would make things easier.

And he was behaving so nicely, almost like a gentleman would do

under the circumstances. Now, all she had to do was bring the

subject around to himself, so she could intimate that she had not

forgotten him either and then--

She gently squeezed his arm and dimpled again.

"Oh, Rhett, how you do run on, teasing a country girl like me! I

know mighty well you never gave me a thought after you left me that

night. You can't tell me you ever thought of me with all those

pretty French and English girls around you. But I didn't come all

the way out here to hear you talk foolishness about me. I came--I

came--because--"

"Because?"

"Oh, Rhett, I'm so terribly distressed about you! So frightened

for you! When will they let you out of that terrible place?"

He swiftly covered her hand with his and held it hard against his

arm.

"Your distress does you credit. There's no telling when I'll be

out. Probably when they've stretched the rope a bit more."

"The rope?"

"Yes, I expect to make my exit from here at the rope's end."

"They won't really hang you?"

"They will if they can get a little more evidence against me."

"Oh, Rhett!" she cried, her hand at her heart.

"Would you be sorry? If you are sorry enough, I'll mention you in

my will."

His dark eyes laughed at her recklessly and he squeezed her hand.

His will! She hastily cast down her eyes for fear of betrayal but

not swiftly enough, for his eyes gleamed, suddenly curious.

"According to the Yankees, I ought to have a fine will. There

seems to be considerable interest in my finances at present. Every

day, I am hauled up before another board of inquiry and asked

foolish questions. The rumor seems current that I made off with

the mythical gold of the Confederacy."

"Well--did you?"

"What a leading question! You know as well as I do that the

Confederacy ran a printing press instead of a mint."

"Where did you get all your money? Speculating? Aunt Pittypat

said--"

"What probing questions you ask!"

Damn him! Of course, he had the money. She was so excited it

became difficult to talk sweetly to him.

"Rhett, I'm so upset about your being here. Don't you think

there's a chance of your getting out?"

"'Nihil desperandum' is my motto."

"What does that mean?"

"It means 'maybe,' my charming ignoramus."

She fluttered her thick lashes up to look at him and fluttered them

down again.

"Oh, you're too smart to let them hang you! I know you'll think of

some clever way to beat them and get out! And when you do--"

"And when I do?" he asked softly, leaning closer.

"Well, I--" and she managed a pretty confusion and a blush. The

blush was not difficult for she was breathless and her heart was

beating like a drum. "Rhett, I'm so sorry about what I--I said to

you that night--you know--at Rough and Ready. I was--oh, so very

frightened and upset and you were so--so--" She looked down and

saw his brown hand tighten over hers. "And--I thought then that

I'd never, never forgive you! But when Aunt Pitty told me

yesterday that you--that they might hang you--it came over me of a

sudden and I--I--" She looked up into his eyes with one swift

imploring glance and in it she put an agony of heartbreak. "Oh,

Rhett, I'd die if they hanged you! I couldn't bear it! You see,

I--" And, because she could not longer sustain the hot leaping

light that was in his eyes, her lids fluttered down again.

In a moment I'll be crying, she thought in a frenzy of wonder and

excitement. Shall I let myself cry? Would that seem more natural?

He said quickly: "My God, Scarlett, you can't mean that you--" and

his hands closed over hers in so hard a grip that it hurt.

She shut her eyes tightly, trying to squeeze out tears, but

remembered to turn her face up slightly so he could kiss her with

no difficulty. Now, in an instant his lips would be upon hers, the

hard insistent lips which she suddenly remembered with a vividness

that left her weak. But he did not kiss her. Disappointment

queerly stirring her, she opened her eyes a trifle and ventured a

peep at him. His black head was bent over her hands and, as she

watched, he lifted one and kissed it and, taking the other, laid it

against his cheek for a moment. Expecting violence, this gentle

and loverlike gesture startled her. She wondered what expression

was on his face but could not tell for his head was bowed.

She quickly lowered her gaze lest he should look up suddenly and

see the expression on her face. She knew that the feeling of

triumph surging through her was certain to be plain in her eyes.