When the last good-by had been said and the last sound of wheels and hooves died away, Scarlett went into Ellen's office and removed a gleaming object from where she had hidden it the night before between the yellowed papers in the pigeon-holes of the secretary.
Hearing Pork sniffling in the dining room as he went about laying the table for dinner she called to him.
He came to her, his black face as forlorn as a lost and masterless hound.
"Pork," she said sternly, "you cry just once more and I'll--I'll cry, too.
You've got to stop."
"Yas'm. Ah try but eve'y time Ah try Ah thinks of Mist' Gerald an'--"
"Well, don't think.
I can stand everybody else's tears but not yours.
There," she broke off gently, "don't you see?
I can't stand yours because I know how you loved him.
Blow your nose, Pork.
I've got a present for you."
A little interest flickered in Pork's eyes as he blew his nose loudly but it was more politeness than interest.
"You remember that night you got shot robbing somebody's hen house?"
"Lawd Gawd, Miss Scarlett!
Ah ain' never--"
"Well, you did, so don't lie to me about it at this late date.
You remember I said I was going to give you a watch for being so faithful?"
"Yas'm, Ah 'members.
Ah figgered you'd done fergot."
"No, I didn't forget and here it is."
She held out for him a massive gold watch, heavily embossed, from which dangled a chain with many fobs and seals.
"Fo' Gawd, Miss Scarlett!" cried Pork.
"Dat's Mist' Gerald's watch!
Ah done seen him look at dat watch a milyun times!"
"Yes, it's Pa's watch, Pork, and I'm giving it to you.
Take it."
"Oh, no'm!" Pork retreated in horror.
"Dat's a w'ite gempmum's watch an' Mist' Gerald's ter boot.
Huccome you talk 'bout givin' it ter me, Miss Scnrlett?
Dat watch belong by rights ter lil Wade Hampton."
"It belongs to you.
What did Wade Hampton ever do for Pa?
Did he look after him when he was sick and feeble?
Did he bathe him and dress him and shave him?
Did he stick by him when the Yankees came?
Did he steal for him?
Don't be a fool, Pork.
If ever anyone deserved a watch, you do, and I know Pa would approve.
Here."
She picked up the black hand and laid the watch in the palm.
Pork gazed at it reverently and slowly delight spread over his face.
"Fer me, truly, Miss Scarlett?"
"Yes, indeed."
"Well'm--thankee, Ma'm."
"Would you like for me to take it to Atlanta and have it engraved?"
"Whut's dis engrabed mean?"
Pork's voice was suspicious.
"It means to put writing on the back of it, like--like
'To Pork from the O'Haras--Well done good and faithful servant.'"