Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Dagnysaidslowly,"OfcourseIforgiveit."

           "Thankyou,"shewhispered,andturnedtogo.

           "Sitdown."

           Sheshookherhead."That...thatwasall,MissTaggart."

           Dagnyallowedherselfthefirsttouchofasmile,nomorethaninthelookofhereyes,asshesaid,"Cherryl,mynameisDagny."

           Cherryl’sanswerwasnomorethanafaint,tremulouscreaseofhermouth,asif,together,theyhadcompletedasinglesmile."I...

           Ididn’tknowwhetherIshould—"

           "We’resisters,aren’twe?"

           "No!NotthroughJim!"Itwasaninvoluntarycry.

           "No,throughourownchoice.Sitdown,Cherryl."Thegirlobeyed,strugglingnottoshowtheeagernessofheracceptance,nottograspforsupport,nottobreak."You’vehadaterribletime,haven’tyou?"

           "Yes...butthatdoesn’tmatter...that’smyownproblem...andmyownfault."

           "Idon’tthinkitwasyourownfault."

           Cherryldidnotanswer,thensaidsuddenly,desperately,"Look...whatIdon’twantischarity."

           "Jimmusthavetoldyou—andit’strue—thatIneverengageincharity."

           "Yes,hedid...ButwhatImeanis—"

           "Iknowwhatyoumean."

           "Butthere’snoreasonwhyyoushouldhavetofeelconcernforme...