Indeed, than a woman. Such thoughts aren't pleasant to live with

and I do not intend to live with them any longer. Other men came

out of the war with less than I had, and look at them now. So I'm

going to New York."

"But--I don't understand! If it's work you want, why won't Atlanta

do as well as New York? And my mill--"

"No, Scarlett. This is my last chance. I'll go North. If I go to

Atlanta and work for you, I'm lost forever."

The word "lost--lost--lost" dinged frighteningly in her heart like

a death bell sounding. Her eyes went quickly to his but they were

wide and crystal gray and they were looking through her and beyond

her at some fate she could not see, could not understand.

"Lost? Do you mean--have you done something the Atlanta Yankees

can get you for? I mean, about helping Tony get away or--or--

Oh, Ashley, you aren't in the Ku Klux, are you?"

His remote eyes came back to her swiftly and he smiled a brief

smile that never reached his eyes.

"I had forgotten you were so literal. No, it's not the Yankees I'm

afraid of. I mean if I go to Atlanta and take help from you again,

I bury forever any hope of ever standing alone."

"Oh," she sighed in quick relief, "if it's only that!"

"Yes," and he smiled again, the smile more wintry than before.

"Only that. Only my masculine pride, my self-respect and, if you

choose to so call it, my immortal soul."

"But," she swung around on another tack, "you could gradually buy

the mill from me and it would be your own and then--"

"Scarlett," he interrupted fiercely, "I tell you, no! There are

other reasons."

"What reasons?"

"You know my reasons better than anyone in the world."

"Oh--that? But--that'll be all right," she assured swiftly. "I

promised, you know, out in the orchard, last winter and I'll keep

my promise and--"

"Then you are surer of yourself than I am. I could not count on

myself to keep such a promise. I should not have said that but I

had to make you understand. Scarlett, I will not talk of this any

more. It's finished. When Will and Suellen marry, I am going to

New York."

His eyes, wide and stormy, met hers for an instant and then he went

swiftly across the room. His hand was on the door knob. Scarlett

stared at him in agony. The interview was ended and she had lost.

Suddenly weak from the strain and sorrow of the last day and the

present disappointment, her nerves broke abruptly and she screamed:

"Oh, Ashley!" And, flinging herself down on the sagging sofa, she

burst into wild crying.

She heard his uncertain footsteps leaving the door and his helpless

Voice saying her name over and over above her head. There was a

swift pattering of feet racing up the hall from the kitchen and

Melanie burst into the room, her eyes wide with alarm.

"Scarlett . . . the baby isn't . . . ?"

Scarlett burrowed her head in the dusty upholstery and screamed

again.

"Ashley--he's so mean! So doggoned mean--so hateful!"

"Oh, Ashley, what have you done to her?" Melanie threw herself on

the floor beside the sofa and gathered Scarlett into her arms.

"What have you said? How could you! You might bring on the baby!

There, my darling, put your head on Melanie's shoulder! What is

wrong?"

"Ashley--he's so--so bullheaded and hateful!"

"Ashley, I'm surprised at you! Upsetting her so much and in her

condition and Mr. O'Hara hardly in his grave!"

"Don't you fuss at him!" cried Scarlett illogically, raising her

head abruptly from Melanie's shoulder, her coarse black hair

tumbling out from its net and her face streaked with tears. "He's

got a right to do as he pleases!"

"Melanie," said Ashley, his face white, "let me explain. Scarlett

was kind enough to offer me a position in Atlanta as manager of one

of her mills--"

"Manager!" cried Scarlett indignantly. "I offered him a half-