Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Life
Shetoldherselfthatshecouldnotcondemnwithoutunderstanding,thatsheknewnothingabouthisworld,thattheextentofherignorancewastheextenttowhichshemisinterpretedhisactions.Shetooktheblame,shetookthebeatingofselfreproach—againstsomebleaklystubborncertaintywhichtoldherthatsomethingwaswrongandthatthethingshefeltwasfear.
"ImustlearneverythingthatMrs.JamesTaggartisexpectedtoknowandtobe,"wasthewaysheexplainedherpurposetoateacherofetiquette.Shesetouttolearnwiththedevotion,thediscipline,thedriveofamilitarycadetorareligiousnovice.Itwastheonlyway,shethought,ofearningtheheightwhichherhusbandhadgrantedherontrust,oflivinguptohisvisionofher,whichitwasnowherdutytoachieve.And,notwishingtoconfessittoherself,shefeltalsothatattheendofthelongtaskshewouldrecapturehervisionofhim,thatknowledgewouldbringbacktoherthemanshehadseenonthenightofhisrailroad’striumph.
ShecouldnotunderstandJim’sattitudewhenshetoldhimaboutherlessons.Heburstoutlaughing;shewasunabletobelievethatthelaughterhadasoundofmaliciouscontempt."Why,Jim?Why?Whatareyoulaughingat?"Hewouldnotexplain—almostasifthefactofhiscontemptweresufficientandrequirednoreasons.
Shecouldnotsuspecthimofmalice:hewastoopatientlygenerousabouthermistakes.
