Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           ThefaintsmileonRichardHalley’sfaceseemedtotellherthattheyhadknowneachotherforyears—as,inherlonelyeveningsbythesideofherphonograph,theyhad.TheausterityofJudgeNarragansett’swhite-hairedfigureremindedherthatshehadonceheardhimdescribedasamarblestatue—ablindfoldedmarblestatue;itwasthekindoffigurethathadvanishedfromthecourtroomsofthecountrywhenthegoldcoinshadvanishedfromthecountry’shands.

           "Youhavebelongedhereforalongtime,MissTaggart,"saidMidasMulligan."Thiswasnotthewayweexpectedyoutocome,but—welcomehome."

           No!—shewantedtoanswer,butheardherselfansweringsoftly,"Thankyou."

           "Dagny,howmanyyearsisitgoingtotakeyoutolearntobeyourself?"ItwasEllisWyatt,graspingherelbow,leadinghertoachair,grinningatherlookofhelplessness,atthestrugglebetweenasmileandatighteningresistanceinherface."Don’tpretendthatyoudon’tunderstandus.Youdo."

           "Wenevermakeassertions,MissTaggart,"saidHughAkston."Thatisthemoralcrimepeculiartoourenemies.Wedonottell—weshow.

           Wedonotclaim—weprove.Itisnotyourobediencethatweseektowin,butyourrationalconviction.Youhaveseenalltheelementsofoursecret.Theconclusionisnowyourstodraw—wecanhelpyoutonameit,butnottoacceptit—thesight,theknowledgeandtheacceptancemustbeyours.