Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Shesatbythetelephoneforamoment,frowning,thencalledMissIves."Pleaseforgivemeforbeingslightlyscatterbrained,MissIves,butIwasrushedanddidnotwriteitdown,andnowI’mnotquitecertainofwhatyousaid.DidyousaythatMr.Reardenwascomingbacktomorrow?OntheComet?"

           "Yes,Mrs.Rearden."

           "Youhavenotheardofanydelayorchangeinhisplans?"

           "Why,no.Infact,IspoketoMr.Reardenaboutanhourago.HetelephonedfromthestationinChicago,andhementionedthathehadtohurrybackaboard,astheCometwasabouttoleave."

           "Isee.Thankyou."

           Sheleapedtoherfeetassoonastheclickoftheinstrumentrestoredhertoprivacy.Shestartedpacingtheroom,herstepsnowunrhythmicallytense.Thenshestopped,struckbyasuddenthought.

           Therewasonlyonereasonwhyamanwouldmakeatrainreservationunderanassumedname:ifhewasnottravelingalone.

           Herfacialmuscleswentflowingslowlyintoasmileofsatisfaction:thiswasanopportunityshehadnotexpected.

           StandingontheTerminalplatform,atapointhalfwaydownthelengthofthetrain,LillianReardenwatchedthepassengersdescendingfromtheComet.Hermouthheldthehintofasmile;therewasasparkofanimationinherlifelesseyes;sheglancedfromonefacetoanother,jerkingherheadwiththeawkwardeagernessofaschoolgirl.