Атлант расправил плечи

           "Thenyoumusthavefaithinme.Loveisfaith,youknow.Don’tyouseethatIneedit?Idon’ttrustanyonearoundme,Ihavenothingbutenemies,Iamverylonely.Don’tyouknowthatIneedyou?"

           Thethingthatmadeherpaceherroom—hourslater,intorturedrestlessness—wasthatshewisheddesperatelytobelievehimanddidnotbelieveawordofit,yetknewthatitwastrue.

           Itwastrue,butnotinthemannerheimplied,notinanymannerormeaningshecouldeverhopetograsp.Itwastruethatheneededher,butthenatureofhisneedkeptslippingpasthereveryefforttodefineit.Shedidnotknowwhathewantedofher.Itwasnotflatterythathewanted,shehadseenhimlisteningtotheobsequiouscomplimentsofliars,listeningwithalookofresentfulinertness—almostthelookofadrugaddictatadoseinadequatetorousehim.Butshehadseenhimlookatherasifhewerewaitingforsomerevivingshotand,attimes,asifhewerebegging.Shehadseenaflickeroflifeinhiseyeswhenevershegrantedhimsomesignofadmiration—yetaburstofangerwashisanswer,whenevershenamedareasonforadmiringhim.

           Heseemedtowanthertoconsiderhimgreat,butneverdareascribeanyspecificcontenttohisgreatness.

           Shedidnotunderstandthenight,inmid-April,whenhereturnedfromatriptoWashington."Hi,kid!"hesaidloudly,droppingasheafoflilacintoherarms."Happydaysarehereagain!Justsawthoseflowersandthoughtofyou.