For her birthday party, Cossette chose an off the shoulder white ballroom gown. Mammy, having now virtually adopted her into the family, helped her dress and then, when everything was in order, left to check on the birthday cake. Cossette studied her image in the mirror, satisfied that she was ready to venture forth.

"Come in," she called out in response to a soft knocking on the door, and Scarlett slipped into the room.

"What a lovely dress, Cossy. It suits you so well."

It was the first time she had called her "Cossy". With Scarlett it was not always easy to tell, but this time Cossette had no doubt that she was completely sincere.

"It's going to be a fabulous party. Melly says everyone is coming." Scarlett looked at her with a considering expression and then promised, "You're going to be the most popular young lady in Atlanta tonight."

No, there was no doubt about it. Scarlett was completely and totally sincere.

"Oh Scarlett, I'm so happy, but not for me. For you. To have such a grand party in your house, with all those people. And your dress is beautiful, too."

The two women embraced.

"I intended to arranged for some of the men to dance with you tonight," Scarlett confessed. "But with all the excitement today, I didn't have a chance.

"You'll have to take care of that yourself. And you're sure to have lots of requests. But make sure you save room for Rhett and Ashley. They're both excellent dancers, I can assure you."

"Oh how wonderful," Cossette sighed. And looking at Scarlett, "I'm so glad we can be friends!"

"And I'm glad you came to Atlanta for your birthday. And stayed with us."

They smiled at each other for a few moments.

"I have a brooch that would go perfectly with your dress," Scarlett suggested. "It belonged to my mother. Would you like to wear it tonight?"

Again there came a knocking at the door, and this time Melanie entered.

"The guests are beginning to arrive, Scarlett. Oh Cossy, that's such a wonderful dress."

She gave Cossette a hug.

"Well, I guess I'm ready," Cossette said, taking one last look in the mirror.

Scarlett and Melanie looked too and it might have been a moment frozen in time. The three of them reflected together, and Cossette pressed it into her memory so that the image would be preserved forever. Scarlett, Cossette, Melanie, three faces side by side, smiling back from the mirror.

***

As Scarlett had predicted, Cossette was the most popular lady in the city. Everyone wanted to meet the young woman who had made the mad dash through the streets of Atlanta to save the children. And in a carriage purloined from Belle Watling, no less.

The other young ladies were full of admiration, the older ladies lavish in their praise, and the men pressed forward, beseeching her for dances. And she danced with them all, from Grandpa Merriwether to little Frank Bonnell. But especially did she dance with Rhett and Ashley.

"I can't tell which one of you is the better dancer," she said when she was finally permitted to rest, and join Scarlett and Melanie at the special table reserved for the guest of honor. "But you're certainly the two best dancers here tonight."

"Now that's diplomatic," Rhett commented with a smile.

"All right," Cossette responded. "It's Ashley. Ashley, you're the best."

They all laughed, and Rhett grimaced and said, "Ah, trapped by my own words."

The change that had taken place in Ashley was astounding. Today he had been presented with a challenge, a danger, not to himself but to those he held dear. The need for action had been answered, quickly and decisively, and for a brief moment he had been transformed into the cavalier of old. Tonight it was as if his lost years had returned, his faded glory restored, his youthful vigor renewed. As Cossette gazed at his golden features, his quiet serenity, his laughing eyes, his confident smile, she understood, as she had never understood before how he could be loved so by Scarlett. And by Melanie.

"Well then. . ." Ashley said, "They're starting a polka. Would you do me the honor, Cossy?"

"I'm sorry," Cossette smiled. "This one belongs to Wade. I promised."

"Not at all," Ashley replied. "Come Melly, my dear. The dance floor awaits and the night is ours."

Melanie giggled as Ashley led her away.

Scarlett coughed meaningfully and Rhett, grinning broadly, extended a hand to her.

"Indeed, Scarlett, the dance floor awaits. Let's show the others how to dance."

Although Dr. Meade was a guest, his natural inclinations had led him to take charge. Dr. Meade loved a good party, and not for many years had Atlanta seen such a joyful occasion as this. In all the euphoria of good will, Scarlett had been more than willing to let him call the dances, make the announcements, interspersed with his humorous anecdotes, and join in with his fiddle when he felt the orchestra needed assistance.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Ladies and Gentlemen! May I have your attention?" he announced, waving his fiddle in one hand and the bow in the other.

"It's nearly time for the cutting of the cake. Now I've been informed that our guest of honor has a wonderful voice for singing. And I was wondering if she would favor us with a song. Miss Cossette?"

They all applauded and with heartfelt murmurs urged her consent. Cossette nodded with a wide smile, and Ashley and Rhett escorted her, one on each arm to the orchestra platform.

"Thank you, thank you all," she said when the applause died down. "You're all so wonderful, and you've given me a birthday I'll never forget.

"I like to sing a song especially for you. And I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do."

And she lifted her voice and sang a few simple but sweet songs.

When she finished, the room exploded with thunderous applause, and it was several minutes before Cossette could speak.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I guess you liked it."

And the assembly rocked with agreeable laughter.

"Let's sing another song," Cossette said. "A familiar song. Everyone join in!"

"I wish I was in the land of cotton,

Old times there are not forgotten. . ."

They all joined in, singing the rousing strains of "Dixie" with joyous fervor, and when the song was finished the room again shook with applause.

"That was wonderful," Cossette announced. "And now before we cut the cake, I'd like to sing you a song from my homeland." "O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise. . . "

It was Rhett who had the final dance of the evening. A waltz.

"This has been quite a birthday for you, Cossy!"

"Has it ever!"

"And it's such a long way from Toronto to Atlanta. Just how many years is it?"

Cossette gasped, with a sharp intake of breath. But Rhett kept her dancing.

"You know?"

"I do now. Now that you've just supplied the last piece of the puzzle."

"Oh!" Cossette exclaimed, realizing how she had been tricked. "Do the others know?"

"No. And they don't suspect. It's just our secret."

"What made you suspect?"

"Several little things," Rhett replied.

"For one thing, there was always something different about you. Something that didn't quite fit. Even Scarlett noticed. I've made the acquaintance of many ladies during my life, and I've developed a habit of reading their faces. Southern ladies have faces that always seem to be cast from the same mold. And there are similar consistencies with ladies in other parts of the world. But you come from a mold that I've never seen before.

"And this was all the more curious because you were from Canada. Near Toronto. Now I've visited Canada. And I just couldn't picture a young lady such as yourself coming from Toronto. I might have believed Quebec, but not Toronto.

"Then when I saw you admiring the staircase I realized there was some significance to your actions that I should have known, but didn't. And there was an interesting statement you made about Americans never knowing who the Canadian Prime Minister is. I suppose we don't, but since Canada has only had a Prime Minister since 1867 I can't see how it's ever been a bone of contention.

"Yes, it was a curious statement, especially coming right on the heels of your uncertainty about Ulysses Grant being the President, and saying that in Canada you don't learn American History. History!"

"Oops," Cossette responded.

Rhett grinned at her. "And finally there was that song you sang tonight. The one about Canada. A very beautiful song, I might add. And very patriotic. I think I know enough about Canada to recognize her favorite songs, but I'd never heard that one before. Could it be that it hasn't yet been written?"

Cossette shook her head in exasperation. "With all those mistakes I'm surprised everyone doesn't know. Ashley's pretty smart. You're sure he doesn't suspect?"

"Oh Ashley doesn't have a suspicious mind like I do. No, your secret is safe."

"Thank you for not telling on me," Cossette said.

"Tell on a lady?" Rhett arched an eyebrow. "I would never do that. I may not be a gentleman but there are proprieties. Besides, I had my own plans."

He gave her a considering look.

"Scarlett was jealous of you. I found that useful."

Cossette stared at him, wide-eyed. "Jealous! Of me!"

"Yes. She thought you had come to Atlanta to steal me away. Ashley too.

"For the last couple of days everything she's done, the picnic at Tara, this party, even sending you to help Melanie at the cemetery, was intended to keep you away from Ashley and me.

"It's the truth. I know Scarlett, and I assure you, that's what she's been doing. Of course it also caused her to shower a lot of attention on me. And to encourage Ashley to stay close to Melanie. Which is why I wanted it to continue."

"I just wanted to meet you guys," Cossette said. "I never intended to go one on one with anybody."

"Oops. You guys. One on one," Rhett enumerated. Interesting expressions you have in Toronto."

"Well we didn't start them," Cossette replied. "They came from Atlanta."

Rhett grinned at her, and thinking quickly, Cossette added, "And they got them from Charleston."

Rhett grimaced. "Enough! I surrender."

They danced silently for several minutes.

"I should thank you for what you've done," Rhett said at last. "For the children, of course. But also for this pleasant interlude in our lives."

Cossette looked a question at him.

"For this little time Scarlett has been attentive to me, and in spite of herself had a wonderful time. Ashley got to be a dashing hero again, if only temporarily. Melanie found a new friend. And I enjoyed it all thoroughly. Especially that contest between you and Scarlett.

"Of course, it's just an interlude. Tomorrow you'll be gone and our lives will fall back to their customary patterns. Melanie will carry on bravely, despite adversity. Ashley will still be Ashley. Scarlett and I will continue at cross purposes."

His lips smiled, but the look in his eyes was one of wistful longing.

"Still it has been pleasant."

The dance ended and they turned to rejoin the others.

"Thank you for the dance," Cossette said. "You're such a wonderful dancer. I'm not sure but that you're the best."

She looked away, and then suddenly looked back and asked, "Did I win?"

"Win?"

"That contest with Scarlett."

"Well," Rhett said consideringly, "You never expect to beat Scarlett at her own game. Yes, you've had a lot of dances with Ashley and me. With Scarlett's consent. But you are leaving tomorrow. Without us.

"I'd call it a draw.

"But here's something to consider, and perhaps you haven't had time to realize it. Now and forever more you can say something that very few people have ever been able to claim. 'On my fifteenth birthday I went one on one with Scarlett O'Hara. And Held My Own!'"

***

They all went to the train station the following morning to see Cossette off. Bonnie gave her a hug and kiss.

"I miss you aw'weady, Cossy."

Rhett and Ashley kissed her, too. Scarlett smiled with her most charming smile and gave her a hug, while Mammy beamed.

"It sho wuz a pleasure meetin' you, Miss Cossy." And to Scarlett, "Ah tole you she wuz a real lady."

Melanie embraced her and kissed her and then looked deeply into her eyes, remembering their shared terror in that wild ride through Atlanta.

Oh Cossy," she said, "We're sisters now. Really and truly sisters."

"I just thought of something," Rhett said. "A birthday present. We didn't get Cossy a birthday present."

"This whole trip has been a birthday present," Cossette assured him.

"Nevertheless we have to give you something. Something to remember us by.

"Here. Take one of my handkerchiefs."

"This has been the most wonderful birthday of my life," Cossette told them as she boarded the train.

"They'll never believe it back home. What am I going to tell them when they ask how it was even possible?"

"I know what I would do," Rhett replied. "When they ask, I'd just grin. Although I think a sly smile would work better for you.

"Yes just like that. That's perfect.

"I'd just smile and tell them, 'Atlanta was lovely in July. And as for how it was possible, frankly my dears, I don't give a, er, darn!'"