Атлант расправил плечи

           SheknewdimlythatthiswastherealHankRearden,andnomatterwhatformofinsultingcrueltyhehadoncegiventotheirfirstnightstogether,nomatterhowoftenshehadseemedasthestrongerofthetwo,thishadalwaysbeenwithinhimandattherootoftheirbond—thisstrengthofhiswhichwouldprotectherifeverhersweregone.

           Whensheraisedherhead,hewassmilingdownather.

           "Hank..."shewhisperedguiltily,indesperateastonishmentatherownbreak.

           "Quiet,darling."

           Sheletherfacedropbackonhisknees;shelaystill,fightingforrest,fightingagainstthepressureofawordlessthought:hehadbeenabletobearandtoacceptherbroadcastonlyasaconfessionofherlove;itmadethetruthshenowhadtotellhimmoreinhumanablowthananyonehadtherighttodeliver.Shefeltterroratthethoughtthatshewouldnothavethestrengthtodoit,andterroratthethoughtthatshewould.

           Whenshelookedupathimagain,heranhishandoverherforehead,brushingthehairoffherface.

           "It’sover,darling,"hesaid."Theworstofitisover,forbothofus."

           "No,Hank,itisn’t."

           Hesmiled.

           Hedrewhertositbesidehim,withherheadonhisshoulder."Don’tsayanythingnow,"hesaid."Youknowthatwebothunderstandallthathastobesaid,andwe’llspeakofit,butnotuntilithasceasedtohurtyouquitesomuch.