.Now she knew the haven she had sought in dreams, the place of warm safety which had always been hidden from her in the mist.
It was not Ashley--oh, never Ashley! There was no more warmth in him than in a marsh light, no more security than in quicksand.
It was Rhett-- Rhett who had strong arms to hold her, a broad chest to pillow her tired head, jeering laughter to pull her affairs into proper perspective. And complete understanding, because he, like her, saw truth as truth, unobstructed by impractical notions of honor, sacrifice, or high belief in human nature. He loved her! Why hadn’t she realized that he loved her, for all his taunting remarks to the contrary? Melanie had seen it and with her last breath had said, “be kind to him.”
“Oh,” she thought, “Ashley’s not the only stupidly blind person.
I should have seen.”