clump of trees between her and the house。
Flushed and breathing hard； she sat down on a stump to wait for her father。 It was past time for him to come home； but she was glad that he was late。 The delay would give her time to quiet her breathing and calm her face so that his suspicions would not be aroused。 Every moment she expected to hear the pounding of his horse’s hooves and see him come charging up the hill at his usual breakneck speed。 But the minutes slipped by and Gerald did not come。 She looked down the road for him； the pain in her heart swelling up again。
“Oh； it can’t be true！” she thought。 “Why doesn’t he come？”
Her eyes followed the winding road； blood…red now after the morning rain。 In her thought she traced its course as it ran down the hill to the sluggish Flint River； through the tangled swampy bottoms and up the next hill to Twelve Oaks where Ashley lived。 That was all the road meant now—a road to Ashley and the beautiful white…columned house that crowned the hill like a Greek Temple。
“Oh； Ashley！ Ashley！” she thought； and her heart beat faster。
Some of the cold sense of bewilderment and disaster that had weighted her down since the Tarleton boys told her their gossip was pushed into the background of her mind； and in its place crept the fever that had possessed her for two years。
It seemed strange now that when she was growing up Ashley had never seemed so very attractive to her。 In childhood days； she had seen him come and go and never given him a thought。 But since that day two years ago when Ashley； newly home from his three years’ Grand Tour in Europe； had called to pay his respects； she had loved him。 It was as simple as that。
She had been on the front porch and he had ridden up the long avenue； dressed in gray broadcloth with a wide black cravat setting off his frilled shirt to perfection。 Even now； she could recall each detail of his dress； how brightly his boots shone； the head of a Medusa in cameo on his cravat phi； the wide Panama hat that was instantly in his hand when he saw her。 He had alighted and tossed his bridle reins to a pickaninny and stood looking up at her； his drowsy gray eyes wide with a smile and the sun so bright on his blond hair that it seemed like a cap of shining silver。 And he said； “So you’ve grown up； Scarlett。” And； coming lightly up the steps； he had kissed her hand。 And his voice！ She would never forget the leap of her heart as she heard it； as if for the first time； drawling； resonant； musical。
She had wanted him； in that first instant； wanted him as simply and unreasoningly as she wanted food to eat； horses to ride and a soft bed on which to lay herself。
For two years he had squired her about the County； to balls； fish fries； picnics and court days； never so often as the Tarleton twins or Cade Calvert； never so importunate as the younger Fontaine boys； but； still； never the week went by that Ashley did not come calling at Tara。
True； he never made love to her； nor did the clear gray eyes ever glow with that hot light Scarlett knew so well in other men。 And yet—and yet—she knew he loved her。 She could not be mistaken about it。 Instinct stronger than reason and knowledge born of experience told her that he loved her。 Too often she had surprised him when his eyes were neither drowsy nor remote； when he looked at her with a yearning and a sadness which puzzled her。 She knew he loved her。 Why did he not tell her so？ That she could not understand。 But there were so many things about him that she did not understand。
He was courteous always； but aloof； remote。 No one could ever tell what he was thinking about； Scarlett least of all。 In a neighborhood where everyone said exactly what he thought as soon as he thought it； Ashley’s quality of reserve was exasperating。 He was as proficient as any of the other young men in the usual County diversions； hunting； gambling； dancing and politics； and was the best rider of them all； but he differed from all the rest in that these pleasant activities were not the end and aim of life to him。 And he stood alone in his interest in books and music and his fondness for writing poetry。
Oh； why was he so handsomely blond； so courteously aloof； so maddeningly boring with his talk about Europe and books and music and poetry and things that interested her not at all—and yet so desirable？ Night after night； when Scarlett went to bed after sitting on the front porch in the semi…darkness with him； she tossed restlessly for hours and comforted herself only with the thought that the very next time he saw her he certainly would propose。 But the next time came and went； and the result was nothing—nothing except that the fever possessing her rose higher and hotter。
She loved him and she wanted him and she did not understand him。 She was as forthright and simple as the winds that blew over Tara and the yellow river that wound about it； and to the end of her days she would never be able to understand a complexity。 And now； for the first time in her life； she was facing a complex nature。
For Ashley was born of a line of men who used their leisure for thinking； not doing； for spinning brightly colored dreams that had in them no touch of reality。 He moved in an inner world that was more beautiful than Georgia and came back to reality with reluctance。 He looked on people； and he neither liked nor disliked them。 He looked on life and was neither heartened nor saddened。 He accepted the universe and his place in it for what they were and； shrugging； turned to his music and books and his better world。
Why he should have captivated Scarlett when his mind was a stranger to hers she did not know。 The very mystery of him excited her curiosity like a door that had neither lock nor key。 The things about him which she could not understand only made her love him more； and his odd； restrained courtship only served to increase her determination to have him for her own。 That he would propose some day she had never doubted； for she was too young and too spoiled ever to have known defeat。 And now； like a thunderclap； had come this horrible news。 Ashley to marry Melanie！ It couldn’t be true！
Why； only last week； when they were riding home at twilight from Fairhill； he had said： “Scarlett； I have something so important to tell you that I hardly know how to say it。”
She had cast down her eyes demurely； her heart beating with wild pleasure； thinking the happy moment had come。 Then he had said： “Not now！ We’re nearly home and there isn’t time。 Oh； Scarlett； what a coward I am！” And putting spurs to his horse； he had raced her up the hill to Tara。
Scarlett； sitting on the stump； thought of those words which had made her so happy； and suddenly they took on another meaning； a hideous meaning。 Suppose it was the news of his engagement he had intended to tell her！
Oh； if Pa would only come home！ She could not endure the suspense another moment She looked impatiently down the road again； and again she was disappointed。 The sun was now below the horizon and the red glow at the rim of the world faded into pink。 The sky above turned slowly from azure to the delicate blue…green of a robin’s egg； and the unearthly stillness of rural twilight came stealthily down about her。 Shadowy dimness crept over the countryside。 The red furrows and the gashed red road lost their magical blood color and became plain brown earth。 Across the road； in the pasture； the horses； mules and cows stood quietly with heads over the split…rail fence； waiting to be driven to the stables and supper。 They did not like the dark shade of the thickets hedging the pasture creek； and they twitched their ears at Scarlett as if appreciative of human companionship。
In the strange half…light； the tall pines of the river swamp； so warmly green in the sunshine； were black against the pastel sky； an impenetrable row of black giants hiding the slow yellow water at their feet。 On the hill across the river； the tall white chimneys of the Wilkes； home faded gradually into the darkness of the thick oaks surrounding them； and only far…off pin points of supper lamps showed that a house was here。 The warm damp balminess of spring encompassed her sweetly with the moist smells of new…plowed earth and all the fresh green things pushing up to the air。
Sunset and spring and new…fledged greenery were no miracle to Scarlett。 Their beauty she accepted as casually as the air she breathed and the water she drank； for she had never consciously seen beauty in anything bat women’s faces； horses； silk dresses and like tangible things。 Yet the serene half…light over Tara’s well…kept acres brought a measure of quiet to her disturbed mind。 She loved this land so much； without even knowing she loved it； loved it as she loved her mother’s face under the lamp at prayer time。
Still there was no sign of Gerald on the quiet winding road。 If she had to wait much longer； Mammy would certainly come in search of her and bully her into the house。 But even as she strained her eyes down the darkening road； she heard a pounding of hooves at the bottom of the pasture hill and saw the horses and cows scatter in fright。 Gerald O’Hara was coming home across country and at top speed。
He came up the hill at a gallop on his thick…barreled； long…legged hunter； appearing in the distance like a boy on a too large horse。 His long white hair standing out behind him； he urged the horse forward with crop and loud cries。
Filled with her own anxieties； she nevertheless watched him with affectionate pride； for Gerald was an excellent horseman。
“I wonder why he always wants to jump fences when he’s had a few drinks；” she thought。 “And after that fall he had right here last year when he broke his knee。 You’d think he’d learn。 Especially when he promised Mother on oath he’d never jump again。”
Scarlett had no awe of her father and felt him more her contemporary than her sisters； for jumping fences and keeping it a secret from his wife gave him a boyish pride and guilty glee that matched her own pleasure in outwitting Mammy。 She rose from her seat to watch him。
The big horse reached the fence； gathered himself and soared over as effortlessly as a bird； his rider yelling enthusiastically； his cr