Атлант расправил плечи

           Thesunhadtrickleddownthepeaksanddrawnacircleofshininggraniteandglitteringsnowtoenclosethevalley—whentheysteppedoutofthehouse.Shefeltsuddenlyasifnothingexistedbeyondthatcircle,andshewonderedatthejoyous,proudcomforttobefoundinasenseofthefinite,intheknowledgethatthefieldofone’sconcernlaywithintherealmofone’ssight.Shewantedtostretchoutherarmsovertheroofsofthetownbelow,feelingthatherfingertipswouldtouchthepeaksacross.Butshecouldnotraiseherarms;leaningonacanewithonehandandonGalt’sarmwiththeother,movingherfeetbyaslow,conscientiouseffort,shewalkeddowntothecarlikeachildlearningtowalkforthefirsttime.

           ShesatbyGalt’ssideashedrove,skirtingthetown,toMidasMulligan’shouse.Itstoodonaridge,thelargesthouseofthevalley,theonlyonebuilttwostorieshigh,anoddcombinationoffortressandpleasureresort,withstoutgranitewallsandbroad,openterraces.HestoppedtoletDanielsoff,thendroveonupawindingroadrisingslowlyintothemountains.

           ItwasthethoughtofMulligan’swealth,theluxuriouscarandthesightofGalt’shandsonthewheelthatmadeherwonderforthefirsttimewhetherGalt,too,waswealthy.