The Sanction of the Victim

           Theroastturkeyhadcost$30.Thechampagnehadcost$25.Thelacetablecloth,acobwebofgrapesandvineleavesiridescentinthecandlelight,hadcost$2,000.Thedinnerservice,withanartist’sdesignburnedinblueandgoldintoatranslucentwhitechina,hadcost$2,500.

           Thesilverware,whichboretheinitialsLRinEmpirewreathsoflaurels,hadcost$3,000.Butitwasheldtobeunspiritualtothinkofmoneyandofwhatthatmoneyrepresented.

           Apeasant’swoodenshoe,gilded,stoodinthecenterofthetable,filledwithmarigolds,grapesandcarrots.Thecandleswerestuckintopumpkinsthatwerecutasopen-mouthedfacesdroolingraisins,nutsandcandyuponthetablecloth.

           ItwasThanksgivingdinner,andthethreewhofacedReardenaboutthetablewerehiswife,hismotherandhisbrother.

           "ThisisthenighttothanktheLordforourblessings,"saidRearden’smother."Godhasbeenkindtous.Therearepeoplealloverthecountrywhohaven’tgotanyfoodinthehousetonight,andsomethathaven’tevengotahouse,andmoreofthemgoingjoblesseveryday.

           Givesmethecreepstolookaroundinthecity.Why,onlylastweek,whodoyousupposeIranintobutLucieJudson—Henry,doyourememberLucieJudson?UsedtolivenextdoortousupinMinnesota,whenyouwereten-twelveyearsold.Hadaboyaboutyourage.IlosttrackofLuciewhentheymovedtoNewYork,musthavebeenalloftwentyyearsago.