Атлант расправил плечи

           becauseIwasworthless?"

           "Well,whatdidyouthinkyouwere?"

           "Youlovedmeforbeingrotten?"

           "Whatelsedidyouhavetooffer?Butyoudidn’thavethehumilitytoappreciateit.Iwantedtobegenerous,Iwantedtogiveyousecurity—whatsecurityisthereinbeinglovedforone’svirtues?Thecompetition’swideopen,likeajunglemarketplace,abetterpersonwillalwayscomealongtobeatyou!ButI—Iwaswillingtoloveyouforyourflaws,foryourfaultsandweaknesses,foryourignorance,yourcrudeness,yourvulgarity—andthat’ssafe,you’dhavenothingtofear,nothingtohide,youcouldbeyourself,yourreal,stinking,sinful,uglyself—everybody’sselfisagutter—butyoucouldholdmylove,withnothingdemandedofyou!"

           "Youwantedmeto...acceptyourlove...asalms?"

           "Didyouimaginethatyoucouldearnit?Didyouimaginethatyoucoulddeservetomarryme,youpoorlittletramp?Iusedtobuythelikesofyouforthepriceofameal!Iwantedyoutoknow,witheverystepyoutook,witheverymouthfulofcaviaryouswallowed,thatyouoweditalltome,thatyouhadnothingandwerenothingandcouldneverhopetoequal,deserveorrepay!"

           "I...tried...todeserveit.