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!