Timidity and embarrassment swept over her and waves of color mounted her cheeks as he came up the walk.
But perhaps he had only come to ask if Beau could spend the day with Bonnie.
Surely he wouldn't have the bad taste to come and thank her for what she had done that day!
She rose to meet him, noting with surprise, as always, how lightly he walked for a big man.
"Scarlett has gone?"
"Yes.
Tara will do her good," he said smiling.
"Sometimes I think she's like the giant Antaeus who became stronger each time he touched Mother Earth.
It doesn't do for Scarlett to stay away too long from the patch of red mud she loves.
The sight of cotton growing will do her more good than all Dr. Meade's tonics."
"Won't you sit down?" said Melanie, her hands fluttering.
He was so very large and male, and excessively male creatures always discomposed her.
They seem to radiate a force and vitality that made her feel smaller and weaker even than she was.
He looked so swarthy and formidable and the heavy muscles in his shoulders swelled against his white linen coat in a way that frightened her.
It seemed impossible that she had seen all this strength and insolence brought low.
And she had held that black head in her lap!
"Oh, dear!" she thought in distress and blushed again.
"Miss Melly," he said gently, "does my presence annoy you?
Would you rather I went away?
Pray be frank."
"Oh!" she thought.
"He does remember!
And he knows how upset I am!"
She looked up at him, imploringly, and suddenly her embarrassment and confusion faded.
His eyes were so quiet, so kind, so understanding that she wondered how she could ever have been silly enough to be flurried.
His face looked tired and, she thought with surprise, more than a little sad.
How could she have even thought he'd be ill bred enough to bring up subjects both would rather forget?
"Poor thing, he's been so worried about Scarlett," she thought, and managing a smile, she said:
"Do sit down, Captain Butler."
He sat down heavily and watched her as she picked up her darning.
"Miss Melly, I've come to ask a very great favor of you and," he smiled and his mouth twisted down, "to enlist your aid in a deception from which I know you will shrink."
"A--deception?"
"Yes.
Really, I've come to talk business to you."
"Oh, dear.
Then it's Mr. Wilkes you'd better see.
I'm such a goose about business.
I'm not smart like Scarlett."
"I'm afraid Scarlett is too smart for her own good," he said, "and that is exactly what I want to talk to you about.
You know how-- ill she's been.
When she gets back from Tara she will start again hammer and tongs with the store and those mills which I wish devoutly would explode some night.
I fear for her health, Miss Melly."
"Yes, she does far too much.
You must make her stop and take care of herself."
He laughed.
"You know how headstrong she is.
I never even try to argue with her.
She's just like a willful child.
She won't let me help her-- she won't let anyone help her.
I've tried to get her to sell her share in the mills but she won't.