Meade, you cant be insinuating that theres ever
beenanything between those two! Until morning lightdisclosed the bodies and the
authorities notified her, she mustknow nothing.
He wassure bleedin like a pig when I seen him last
night.
She wondered if everyone in town thought she had
killed him. She had married him coldly and used him coldly. She felt very warm now
but still shecouldnt get the thought of Frank out of her mind. Well, Miz Wilkes,
people in my business knows a heap of things.
Miss Melly will believe any plausible
scoundrel.
Belle put an eager placating hand on Melanies arm
and then hastilywithdrew it. Atlanta was right in fearing that the Yankees would
laugh. He had been more her contemporary thanScarletts and she had been devoted to
him. Dean, his long white hair tumbled, his worn leather bag bulgingunder his
cape.
Hell to pay, he said as he stumped down the hall to
the backdoor.
He did look amused when he took us upstairsin that
place.
Ive seen them coming in from ridestogether too
often this last year. Thank you, said Rhett and for a moment he looked
almostembarrassed.
Dean, his long white hair tumbled, his worn leather
bag bulgingunder his cape.
Thestage lost two great actors when they did not
take up the drama.
I aint takin no orders from you, he said briefly,
shifting hiswad of tobacco to the other cheek.
Ill be down terrectly, Rhett, she called. Miz
Wilkes, you hadnt ought of sent me that note this mornin. The only thing she had
ever done that gavehim any real happiness was to present him with Ella. Iimagine
Dolly has gotten it all out of old man Merriwether and shecan tell me about it. She
took another drink at the thought, shuddering as the hot brandywent down her throat.
But your Uncle Henry and old man Merriwether were excellent. The words bubbled up
faster than she could speak them. Shecaught up Melanies hooded cape which was
hanging on a hook in thehall. Kennedy was a man of wide interests, said Rhett
respectfully.
There was nothing likeit when you needed it. Hed
been so bad himselfthat he wouldnt sit in judgment on her.