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minmarn
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Gone_with_the_wind

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"Oh, of course," cried Melanie, her face lighting up, as always, at
the mention of Beau. "I want him to have everything but--well,
everyone is so poor these days that--"
"Mr. Wilkes could make a pile of money out of the mills some day,"
said Rhett. "And I'd like to see Beau have all the advantages he
deserves."
"Oh, Captain Butler, what a crafty wretch you are!" she cried,
smiling. "Appealing to a mother's pride! I can read you like a
book."
"I hope not," said Rhett, and for the first time there was a gleam
in his eye. "Now will you let me lend you the money?"
"But where does the deception come in?"
"We must be conspirators and deceive both Scarlett and Mr. Wilkes."
"Oh, dear! I couldn't!"
"If Scarlett knew I had plotted behind her back, even for her own
good--well, you know her temper! And I'm afraid Mr. Wilkes would
refuse any loan I offered him. So neither of them must know where
the money comes from."
"Oh, but I'm sure Mr. Wilkes wouldn't refuse, if he understood the
matter. He is so fond of Scarlett."
"Yes, I'm sure he is," said Rhett smoothly. "But just the same he
would refuse. You know how proud all the Wilkes are."
"Oh, dear!" cried Melanie miserably, "I wish-- Really, Captain
Butler, I couldn't deceive my husband."
"Not even to help Scarlett?" Rhett looked very hurt. "And she is
so fond of you!"
Tears trembled on Melanie's eyelids.
"You know I'd do anything in the world for her. I can never, never
half repay her for what she's done for me. You know."
"Yes," he said shortly, "I know what she's done for you. Couldn't
you tell Mr. Wilkes that the money was left you in the will of some
relative?"
"Oh, Captain Butler, I haven't a relative with a penny to bless
him!"
"Then, if I sent the money through the mail to Mr. Wilkes without
his knowing who sent it, would you see that it was used to buy the
mills and not--well, given away to destitute ex-Confederates?"
At first she looked hurt at his last words, as though they implied
criticism of Ashley, but he smiled so understandingly she smiled
back.
"Of course I will."
"So it's settled? It's to be our secret?"
"But I have never kept anything secret from my husband!"
"I'm sure of that, Miss Melly."
As she looked at him she thought how right she had always been
about him and how wrong so many other people were. People had said
he was brutal and sneering and bad mannered and even dishonest.
Though many of the nicest people were now admitting they had been
wrong. Well! She had known from the very beginning that he was a
fine man. She had never received from him anything but the kindest
treatment, thoughtfulness, utter respect and what understanding!
And then, how he loved Scarlett! How sweet of him to take this
roundabout way of sparing Scarlett one of the loads she carried!
In an impulsive rush of feeling, she said: "Scarlett's lucky to
have a husband who's so nice to her!"
"You think so? I'm afraid she wouldn't agree with you, if she
could hear you. Besides, I want to be nice to you too, Miss Melly.
I'm giving you more than I'm giving Scarlett."
"Me!" she questioned, puzzled. "Oh, you mean for Beau."
He picked up his hat and rose. He stood for a moment looking down
at the plain, heart-shaped face with its long widow's peak and
serious dark eyes. Such an unworldly face, a face with no defenses
against life.
"No, not Beau. I'm trying to give you something more than Beau, if
you can imagine that."
"No, I can't," she said, bewildered again. "There's nothing in the
world more precious to me than Beau except Ash--except Mr. Wilkes."
Rhett said nothing and looked down at her, his dark face still.
"You're mighty nice to want to do things for me, Captain Butler,