Атлант расправил плечи

           Shenoticedthathisgrim,squarefacewasnotasharshlyexpressionlessasshehadthought:hehadalookofsatisfaction,butsatisfactioncouldnotsoftenhisfeatures,itmerelystruckthemlikeflintandsentsparksofhumortoglitterfaintlyinthecornersofhiseyes,ahumorthatwasshrewder,moredemanding,yetwarmerthanasmile.

           Heopenedthedoorofhishouse,movinghisarmashademoreslowlythannormal,givinganimperceptiblysolemnemphasistohisgesture.

           Walkingintothelivingroom,shefacedsevenmenwhorosetotheirfeetatherentrance.

           "Gentlemen—TaggartTranscontinental,"saidMidasMulligan.

           Hesaiditsmiling,butonlyhalf-jesting;somequalityinhisvoicemadethenameoftherailroadsoundasitwouldhavesoundedinthedaysofNatTaggart,asasonoroustitleofhonor.

           Sheinclinedherhead,slowly,inacknowledgmenttothemenbeforeher,knowingthatthesewerethemenwhosestandardsofvalueandhonorwerethesameasherown,themenwhorecognizedthegloryofthattitleassherecognizedit,knowingwithasuddenstabofwistfulnesshowmuchshehadlongedforthatrecognitionthroughallheryears.

           Hereyesmovedslowly,ingreeting,fromfacetoface:EllisWyatt—KenDanagger—HughAkston—Dr.Hendricks—QuentinDaniels—Mulligan’svoicepronouncedthenamesofthetwoothers:"RichardHalley—JudgeNarragansett.