Атлант расправил плечи

           Itwasnotaprogressionofwords,buttheinstantaneousverdictofanemotion,averdictthattoldhim:This,then,washisnature,thiswashisdepravity—thattheshamefuldesirehehadneverbeenabletoconquer,cametohiminresponsetotheonlysightofbeautyhehadfound,thatitcamewithaviolencehehadnotknowntobepossible,andthattheonlyfreedomnowlefttohimwastohideitandtodespisehimself,butnevertoberidofitsolongasheandthiswomanwerealive.

           Hedidnotknowhowlonghestoodthereorwhatdevastationthatspanoftimeleftwithinhim.Allthathecouldpreservewasthewilltodecidethatshemustneverknowit.

           Hewaiteduntilshehaddescendedtothegroundandthemanwiththenoteshaddeparted;thenheapproachedherandsaidcoldly:"MissTaggart?IamHenryRearden."

           "Oh!"Itwasjustasmallbreak,thenheheardthequietlynatural"Howdoyoudo,Mr.Rearden."

           Heknew,notadmittingittohimself,thatthebreakcamefromsomefaintequivalentofhisownfeeling:shewasgladthatafaceshehadlikedbelongedtoamanshecouldadmire.Whenheproceededtospeaktoheraboutbusiness,hismannerwasmoreharshlyabruptthanithadeverbeenwithanyofhismasculinecustomers.