Jump!

  The front door slightly ajar and she trotted, breathless, into the hall and paused for a moment under the rainbow prisms of the chandelier. For all its brightness the house was very still, not with the serene stillness of sleep but with a watchful,tired silence that was faintly ominous. she saw at a glance taht Rhett was in the parlour or the library and her heart sank. Suppose he should be out-out with belle or wherever it was he spent the many evenings when he did not appear ar the supper table?She had not bargained on this.

  She has started up the steps in search of him when she saw that the door of the dining-room was closed. Her heart contracted a little with shame at the sight of the closed door,remembering the many nights of this last summer when Rhett had sat there alone,drinking until he was sodden and Pork came to urgr him to bed. Thathad been her fault but she'd change it all. Everything was gong to be different from now on - but, please God, don't let him be too drunk tonight. If he's too drunk he won't believe me and he'll laugh at me and that will break my heart.