She had never understood either of the men she had loved and so she had lost them both. Now, she had a fumbling knowledge that, had she ever understood Ashley, she would never have loved him; had she ever understood Rhett, she would never have lost him.

But I do love him. I've loved him for years. Love can't change to apathy in a minute.

The fluttering lashes were his undoing.

I can’t think now. I’ll think later, when I can stand it—when I can’t see his eyes.

She had to lose them all to realize that she loved Rhett--loved him because he was strong and unscrupulous, passionate and earthy, like herself.

And you look gorgeous when you are mad. I’ll squeeze you again-there—just to see if you will really get mad. You have no idea how charming you were that day at Twelve Oaks when you were mad and throwing things.

Laugh, if you like, but I wanted to take care of you, to pet you, to give you everything you wanted. I wanted to marry you and protect you and give you a free rein in anything that would make you happy. You'd had such a struggle. No one knew better than I what you'd gone through and I wanted you to stop fighting and let me fight for you. I wanted you to play, like a child--for you were a child, a brave, frightened, bullheaded child. I think you are still a child. No one but a child could be so headstrong and so insensitive.

I want you more than I have ever wanted any woman—and I’ve waited longer for you than I’ve ever waited for any woman.

Would it please you if I said your eyes were twin goldfish bowls filled to the brim with the clearest green water and that when the fish swim to the top, as they are doing now, you are devilishly charming?

He spoke as with an effort. "She is the only dream I ever had that lived and breathed and did not die in the face of reality."

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.