Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Lookingupatherfromunderhisloweredforehead,asifstressingthatheexpectedhertounderstand,Taggartasked,"Howishetakingit?"

           "Who?"Sheunderstoodquitewell.

           "Yourhusband."

           "Takingwhat?"

           "TheclosingofthatLine."

           Shesmiledgaily."Yourguessisasgoodasmine,Jim—andmineisverygoodindeed."

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Youknowhowhewouldtakeit—justasyouknowhowyoursisteristakingit.Soyourcloudhasadoublesilverlining,hasn’tit?"

           "Whathashebeensayinginthelastfewdays?"

           "He’sbeenawayinColoradoforoveraweek,soI—"Shestopped;shehadstartedansweringlightly,butshenoticedthatTaggart’squestionhadbeentoospecificwhilehistonehadbeentoocasual,andsherealizedthathehadstruckthefirstnoteleadingtowardthepurposeoftheluncheon;shepausedforthebriefestinstant,thenfinished,stillmorelightly,"soIwouldn’tknow.Buthe’scomingbackanydaynow."

           "Wouldyousaythathisattitudeisstillwhatonemightcallrecalcitrant?"

           "Why,Jim,thatwouldbeanunderstatement!"

           "Itwastobehopedthateventshad,perhaps,taughthimthewisdomofamellowerapproach."

           Itamusedhertokeephimindoubtaboutherunderstanding.