Атлант расправил плечи

           Itwasanimpersonalfeeling,shedidnotlookathimasataman,butasatananimatedworkofart—anditseemedtobeastressedindignityoftheouterworldthataperfectionsuchashisshouldbesubjectedtotheshocks,thestrains,thescarsreservedforanymanwholovedhiswork.

           Butthefeelingseemedthemorepreposterous,becausethelinesofhisfacehadthesortofhardnessforwhichnodangeronearthwasamatch,"No,MissTaggart,"hesaidsuddenly,catchingherglance,"you’veneverseenmebefore."

           Shewasshockedtorealizethatshehadbeenstudyinghimopenly.

           "HowdoyouhappentoknowwhoIam?"sheasked.

           "First,I’veseenyourpicturesinthepapersmanytimes.Second,you’retheonlywomanleftintheouterworld,tothebestofourknowledge,who’dbeallowedtoenterGalt’sGulch.Third,you’retheonlywomanwho’dhavethecourage—andprodigality—stilltoremainascab."

           "WhatmadeyoucertainthatIwasascab?"

           "Ifyouweren’t,you’dknowthatit’snotthisvalley,buttheviewoflifeheldbymenintheouterworldthatisaprehistoricalmirage."

           Theyheardthesoundofthemotorandsawthecarstoppingbelow,infrontofthehouse.ShenoticedtheswiftnesswithwhichherosetohisfeetatthesightofGaltinthecar;ifitwerenotfortheobviouspersonaleagerness,itwouldhavelookedlikeaninstinctivegestureofmilitaryrespect.