Атлант расправил плечи

           Shefeltanimmenserelief,andatouchofamusementatthethoughtthatadiscoveryofthiskindshouldmakeherfeelrelieved.

           Therelieflastedonlyforafewhours.Attheendoftheevening,shesawDagnyinacomeroftheballroom,sittingonabalustradeasifitwereafencerail,herlegsdanglingunderthechiffonskirtasifsheweredressedinslacks.Shewastalkingtoacoupleofhelplessyoungmen,herfacecontemptuouslyempty.

           NeitherDagnynorMrs.Taggartsaidawordwhentheyrodehometogether.Buthourslater,onasuddenimpulse,Mrs.Taggartwenttoherdaughter’sroom.Dagnystoodbythewindow,stillwearingthewhiteeveninggown;itlookedlikeacloudsupportingabodythatnowseemedtoothinforit,asmallbodywithsaggingshoulders.Beyondthewindow,thecloudsweregrayinthefirstlightofmorning.

           WhenDagnyturned,Mrs.Taggartsawonlypuzzledhelplessnessinherface;thefacewascalm,butsomethingaboutitmadeMrs.Taggartwishshehadnotwishedthatherdaughtershoulddiscoversadness.

           "Mother,dotheythinkit’sexactlyinreverse?"sheasked.

           "What?"askedMrs.Taggart,bewildered.

           "Thethingsyouweretalkingabout.Thelightsandtheflowers.Dotheyexpectthosethingstomakethemromantic,nottheotherwayaround?"

           "Darling,whatdoyoumean?"

           "Therewasn’tapersontherewhoenjoyedit,"shesaid,hervoicelifeless,"orwhothoughtorfeltanythingatall.Theymovedabout,andtheysaidthesamedullthingstheysayanywhere.Isupposetheythoughtthelightswouldmakeitbrilliant."