Атлант расправил плечи

           He’dmerelyblamehimselffornothavingmovedoutoftheclub’sreach.Still,thatwouldbeyouronlychance."

           Sheshiftedherbody,slidinglowerinthearmchair,stomachforward,asifrelaxationwereugliness,asifsheweregrantinghimthekindofintimacythatrequirednopoiseandnorespect.

           "ThatwasthefirstthingInoticedabouthim,"shesaid,"whenImethimforthefirsttime:thathewasnotafraid.Helookedasifhefeltcertainthattherewasnothinganyofuscoulddotohim—socertainthathedidn’tevenknowtheissueorthenatureofwhathefelt."

           "Howlongsinceyousawhimlast?"

           "Threemonths.Ihaven’tseenhimsince...sincetheGiftCertificate..."

           "Isawhimatanindustrialmeetingtwoweeksago.Hestilllooksthatway—onlymoreso.Now,helooksasifheknowsit."Headded,"Youhavefailed,Lillian."

           Shedidnotanswer.Shepushedherhatoffwiththebackofherhand;itrolleddowntothecarpet,itsfeathercurlinglikeaquestionmark."IrememberthefirsttimeIsawhismills,"shesaid."Hismills!

           Youcan’timaginewhathefeltaboutthem.Youwouldn’tknowthekindofintellectualarroganceittakestofeelasifanythingpertainingtohim,anythinghetouched,weremadesacredbythetouch.Hismills,hisMetal,hismoney,hisbed,hiswife!"Sheglancedupathim,asmallflickerpiercingthelethargicemptinessofhereyes.