Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Theyhadreachedthecar,butshedidnotgetin.

           "MissTaggart,youweren’thurtbadly,wereyou?Didyousayyoucrashed,butitwasn’tserious?"

           "No,notseriousatall.I’llbeabletogetalongwithoutMr.Mulligan’scarbytomorrow—andinadayortwoIwon’tneedthisthing,either."Sheswunghercaneandtosseditcontemptuouslyintothecar.

           Theystoodinsilence;shewaswaiting.

           "Thelastlong-distancecallImadefromthatstationinNewMexico,"hesaidslowly,"wastoPennsylvania.IspoketoHankRearden.ItoldhimeverythingIknew.Helistened,andthentherewasapause,andthenhesaid,‘Thankyouforcallingme.’"Kellogg’seyeswerelowered;headded,"IneverwanttohearthatkindofpauseagainaslongasIlive."

           Heraisedhiseyestohers;therewasnoreproachinhisglance,onlytheknowledgeofthatwhichhehadnotsuspectedwhenheheardherrequest,buthadguessedsince.

           "Thankyou,"shesaid,andthrewthedoorofthecaropen."CanIgiveyoualift?Ihavetogetbackandgetdinnerreadybeforemyemployercomeshome."

           ItwasinthefirstmomentofreturningtoGalt’shouse,ofstandingaloneinthesilent,sun-filledroom,thatshefacedthefullmeaningofwhatshefelt.Shelookedatthewindow,atthemountainsbarringtheskyintheeast.