Атлант расправил плечи

           Theymetinadistinguished,high-pricedrestaurant,muchtoodistinguishedandhigh-pricedevertobementionedinthegossipcolumns;notthekindofplacewhichJamesTaggart,alwayseagerforpersonalpublicity,wasinthehabitofpatronizing;hedidnotwantthemtobeseentogether,sheconcluded.

           Thehalf-hintofhalf-secretamusementremainedonherfacewhileshelistenedtohimtalkingabouttheirfriends,thetheaterandtheweather,carefullybuildingforhimselftheprotectionoftheunimportant.Shesatgracefullynotquitestraight,asifshewereleaningback,enjoyingthefutilityofhisperformanceandthefactthathehadtostageitforherbenefit.Shewaitedwithpatientcuriositytodiscoverhispurpose.

           "Idothinkthatyoudeserveapatonthebackoramedalorsomething,Jim,"shesaid,"forbeingremarkablycheerfulinspiteofallthemessytroubleyou’rehaving.Didn’tyoujustclosethebestbranchofyourrailroad?"

           "Oh,it’sonlyaslightfinancialsetback,nothingmore.Onehastoexpectretrenchmentsatatimelikethis.Consideringthegeneralstateofthecountry,we’redoingquitewell.Betterthantherestofthem."Headded,shrugging,"Besides,it’samatterofopinionwhethertheRioNorteLinewasourbestbranch.Itisonlymysisterwhothoughtso.

           Itwasherpetproject."

           Shecaughtthetoneofpleasureblurringthedrawlofhissyllables.

           Shesmiledandsaid,"Isee.