If it were something that mattered it wouldn't be so hard to hear

you talk like this. But about a woman like Scarlett O'Hara who'd

just as soon do you a dirty turn as the next of us--"

Tears had started in Melanie's eyes at the first words Mrs. Elsing

spoke, but her face hardened when the old lady had finished.

"I want it understood," she said, "that any of you who do not call

on Scarlett need never, never call on me."

There was a loud murmur of voices, confusion as the ladies got to

their feet. Mrs. Elsing dropped her sewing box on the floor and

came back into the room, her false fringe jerking awry.

"I won't have it!" she cried. "I won't have it! You are beside

yourself, Melly, and I don't hold you responsible. You shall be my

friend and I shall be yours. I refuse to let this come between

us."

She was crying and somehow, Melanie was in her arms, crying too,

but declaring between sobs that she meant every word she said.

Several of the other ladies burst into tears and Mrs. Merriwether,

trumpeting loudly into her handkerchief, embraced both Mrs. Elsing

and Melanie. Aunt Pitty, who had been a petrified witness to the

whole scene, suddenly slid to the floor in what was one of the few

real fainting spells she had ever had. Amid the tears and

confusion and kissing and scurrying for smelling salts and brandy,

there was only one calm face, one dry pair of eyes. India Wilkes

took her departure unnoticed by anyone.

Grandpa Merriwether, meeting Uncle Henry Hamilton in the Girl of

the Period Saloon several hours later, related the happenings of

the morning which he had heard from Mrs. Merriweather. He told it

was relish for he was delighted that someone had the courage to

face down his redoubtable daughter-in-law. Certainly, he had never

had such courage.

"Well, what did the pack of silly fools finally decide to do?"

asked Uncle Henry irritably.

"I dunno for sure," said Grandpa, "but it looks to me like Melly

won hands down on this go-round. I'll bet they'll all call, at

least once. Folks set a store by that niece of yours, Henry."

"Melly's a fool and the ladies are right. Scarlett is a slick

piece of baggage and I don't see why Charlie ever married her,"

said Uncle Henry gloomily. "But Melly was right too, in a way.

It's only decent that the families of the men Captain Butler saved

should call. When you come right down to it, I haven't got so much

against Butler. He showed himself a fine man that night he saved

our hides. It's Scarlett who sticks under my tail like a

cocklebur. She's a sight too smart for her own good. Well, I've

got to call. Scallawag or not, Scarlett is my niece by marriage,

after all. I was aiming to call this afternoon."

"I'll go with you, Henry. Dolly will be fit to be tied when she

hears I've gone. Wait till I get one more drink."

"No, we'll get a drink off Captain Butler. I'll say this for him,

he always has good licker."

Rhett had said that the Old Guard would never surrender and he was

right. He knew how little significance there was to the few calls

made upon them, and he knew why the calls were made. The families

of the men who had been in the ill-starred Klan foray did call

first, but called with obvious infrequency thereafter. And they

did not invite the Rhett Butlers to their homes.

Rhett said they would not have come at all, except for fear of