Атлант расправил плечи

           Nootherreasonwouldhavemadeyouleavemeasyoudid.Onlythatonereasonwasvalidandright."

           Shewasleaningbackalittle,asiffightingforbalancetostand,yetshewaslookingstraightathim,withasmilethatdidnotpartherlips,butsoftenedhereyestoaglanceofadmirationandhermouthtoashapeofpain.

           "It’strue.I’vemetthemanIloveandwillalwayslove,I’veseenhim,I’vespokentohim—buthe’samanwhomIcan’thave,whomImayneverhaveand,perhaps,mayneverseeagain."

           "IthinkI’vealwaysknownthatyouwouldfindhim.Iknewwhatyoufeltforme,Iknewhowmuchitwas,butIknewthatIwasnotyourfinalchoice.Whatyou’llgivehimisnottakenawayfromme,it’swhatI’veneverhad.Ican’trebelagainstit.WhatI’vehadmeanstoomuchtome—andthatI’vehadit,canneverbechanged."

           "Doyouwantmetosayit,Hank?Willyouunderstandit,ifIsaythatI’llalwaysloveyou?"

           "IthinkI’veunderstooditbeforeyoudid."

           "I’vealwaysseenyouasyouarenow.Thatgreatnessofyourswhichyouarejustbeginningtoallowyourselftoknow—I’vealwaysknownitandI’vewatchedyourstruggletodiscoverit.