@@@@@She didn't understand what he was saying,
@@@@@She didn't
understand
what he was saying, but the gesture and his tone of voice told her that
she'd won "So I'll stay?"
"You'll stay until you want to goI don't expect it to be very
long
"But you're wrong, Rhett! I love it here An old, familiar expression
crossed his faceHe was amused and skeptical and all-knowing
"How
long have you been in Charleston, Scarlett?"
"Since last night
"And you've learned to love itQuick work, I congratulate you on your
sensitivityYou were driven out of Atlanta-miraculously minus tar and
feathers-and you've been treated decently by ladies who know no
other
way to treat people, and so you think you've found a refuge He
laughed at the look on her face"Oh, yes, I still have associates in
AtlantaI know all about your ostracism thereNot even the scum
you
used to consort with will have anything to do with you any more
"That's not true!" she cried
"We needn't discuss that furtherWhat matters is that now you are
here, in my mother's house and under her wingBecause I care
greatly
for her happiness, I cannot for the moment do anything about it
However, I don't really have toYou'll do what's necessary without
any action on my partYou'll reveal yourself for what you are; then
everyone will feel pity for me and compassion for my motherAnd I'll
pack you up and ship you back to Atlanta to the genteelly silent cheers
of the entire communityYou think you can pass yourself off as a
lady, don't you? You couldn't fool a blind deaf-mute
"I am a lady, damn youYou just don't know what it's like to be a
decent perso