Why, I--why, you--it wouldn't be fittin' at all."
"It wouldn't be fitting for me to call and thank a kind woman who saved my husband's life?"
"Oh, shucks, Miz Wilkes!
You know what I mean!"
Melanie was silent for a moment, embarrassed by the implication.
Somehow this handsome, sedately dressed woman sitting in the darkness of the carriage didn't look and talk as she imagined a bad woman, the Madam of a House, should look and talk.
She sounded like--well, a little common and countrified but nice and warm hearted.
"You were wonderful before the provost marshal today, Mrs. Watling!
You and the other--your--the young ladies certainly saved our men's lives."
"Mr. Wilkes was the wonderful one.
I don't know how he even stood up and told his story, much less look as cool as he done.
He was sure bleedin' like a pig when I seen him last night.
Is he goin' to be all right, Miz Wilkes?"
"Yes, thank you.
The doctor says it's just a flesh wound, though he did lose a tremendous lot of blood.
This morning he was--well, he was pretty well laced with brandy or he'd never have had the strength to go through with it all so well.
But it was you, Mrs. Watling, who saved them.
When you got mad and talked about the broken mirrors you sounded so--so convincing."
"Thank you, Ma'm. But I--I thought Captain Butler done mighty fine too," said Belle, shy pride in her voice.
"Oh, he was wonderful!" cried Melanie warmly.
"The Yankees couldn't help but believe his testimony.
He was so smart about the whole affair.
I can never thank him enough--or you either!
How good and kind you are!"
"Thank you kindly, Miz Wilkes.
It was a pleasure to do it.
I--I hope it ain't goin' to embarrass you none, me sayin' Mr. Wilkes come regular to my place.
He never, you know--"
"Yes, I know.
No, it doesn't embarrass me at all.
I'm just so grateful to you."
"I'll bet the other ladies ain't grateful to me," said Belle with sudden venom.
"And I'll bet they ain't grateful to Captain Butler neither.
I'll bet they'll hate him just this much more.
I'll bet you'll be the only lady who even says thanks to me.
I'll bet they won't even look me in the eye when they see me on the street.
But I don't care.
I wouldn't of minded if all their husbands got hung.
But I did mind about Mr. Wilkes.
You see I ain't forgot how nice you was to me durin' the war, about the money for the hospital.
There ain't never been a lady in this town nice to me like you was and I don't forget a kindness.
And I thought about you bein' left a widder with a little boy if Mr. Wilkes got hung and--he's a nice little boy, your boy is, Miz Wilkes.
I got a boy myself and so I--"
"Oh, you have?
Does he live--er--"
"Oh, no'm! He ain't here in Atlanta.
He ain't never been here.
He's off at school.
I ain't seen him since he was little.
I-- well, anyway, when Captain Butler wanted me to lie for those men I wanted to know who the men was and when I heard Mr. Wilkes was one I never hesitated.