Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Life
Heseemedeagertodisplayherinthebestdrawingroomsofthecity,andheneverutteredawordofreproachforherignorance,forherawkwardness,forthoseterriblemomentswhenasilentexchangeofglancesamongtheguestsandaburstofbloodtohercheekbonestoldherthatshehadsaidthewrongthingagain.Heshowednoembarrassment,hemerelywatchedherwithafaintsmile.
Whentheycamehomeafteroneofthoseevenings,hismoodseemedaffectionatelycheerful.Hewastryingtomakeiteasierforher,shethought—andgratitudedrovehertostudytheharder.
Sheexpectedherrewardontheeveningwhen,bysomeimperceptibletransition,shefoundherselfenjoyingapartyforthefirsttime.Shefeltfreetoact,notbyrules,butatherownpleasure,withsuddenconfidencethattheruleshadfusedintoanaturalhabit—sheknewthatshewasattractingattention,butnow,forthefirsttime,itwasnottheattentionofridicule,butofadmiration—shewassoughtafter,onherownmerit,shewasMrs.Taggart,shehadceasedbeinganobjectofcharityweighingJimdown,painfullytoleratedforhissake—shewaslaughinggailyandseeingthesmilesofresponse,ofappreciationonthefacesaroundher—andshekeptglancingathimacrosstheroom,radiantly,likeachildhandinghimareportcardwithaperfectscore,begginghimtobeproudofher.Jimsataloneinacorner,watchingherwithanundecipherableglance.
Hewouldnotspeaktoherontheirwayhome.
