Атлант расправил плечи

           Therefore,youwillunderstandmyinterestintheissueandmyplaceinit.Whenyourbrothertoldmethatyouhadrefused,Idecidedtotakeahandinthematter—because,yousee,Iamoneoftheveryfewwhoknowthatyouarenotinapositiontorefuse."

           "Iamnotoneofthosefew,asyet,"saidDagny.

           Lilliansmiled."Well,yes,Imustexplainalittlefurther.Yourealizethatyourradioappearancewillhavethesamevalueforthoseinpoweras—astheactionofmyhusbandwhenhesignedtheGiftCertificatethatturnedReardenMetalovertothem.Youknowhowfrequentlyandhowusefullytheyhavebeenmentioningitinalloftheirpropaganda."

           "Ididn’tknowthat,"saidDagnysharply.

           "Oh,ofcourse,youhavebeenawayformostofthelasttwomonths,soyoumighthavemissedtheconstantreminders—inthepress,ontheradio,inpublicspeeches—thatevenHankReardenapprovesofandsupportsDirective10-289,sincehehasvoluntarilysignedhisMetalovertothenation.EvenHankRearden.Thatdiscouragesagreatmanyrecalcitrantsandhelpstokeeptheminline."Sheleanedbackandaskedinthetoneofacasualaside,"Haveyoueveraskedhimwhyhesigned?"

           Dagnydidnotanswer;shedidnotseemtohearthatitwasaquestion;shesatstillandherfacewasexpressionless,buthereyesseemedtoolargeandtheywerefixedonLillian’s,asifshewerenowintentuponnothingbuthearingLilliantotheend.