Атлант расправил плечи

           Shesawhimonce,atareceptiongivenbyanambassadorinNewYork.Hebowedtohercourteously,hesmiled,andhelookedatherwithaglanceinwhichnopastexisted.Shedrewhimaside.Shesaidonly,"Francisco,why?""Why—what?"heasked.Sheturnedaway."Iwarnedyou,"hesaid.Shedidnottrytoseehimagain.

           Shesurvivedit.Shewasabletosurviveit,becauseshedidnotbelieveinsuffering.Shefacedwithastonishedindignationtheuglyfactoffeelingpain,andrefusedtoletitmatter.Sufferingwasasenselessaccident,itwasnotpartoflifeasshesawit.Shewouldnotallowpaintobecomeimportant.Shehadnonameforthekindofresistancesheoffered,fortheemotionfromwhichtheresistancecame;butthewordsthatstoodasitsequivalentinhermindwere:Itdoesnotcount-itisnottobetakenseriously.Sheknewthesewerethewords,eveninthemomentswhentherewasnothingleftwithinherbutscreamingandshewishedshecouldlosethefacultyofconsciousnesssothatitwouldnottellherthatwhatcouldnotbetruewastrue.Nottobetakenseriously—animmovablecertaintywithinherkeptrepeating—painanduglinessarenevertobetakenseriously.

           Shefoughtit.Sherecovered.Yearshelpedhertoreachthedaywhenshecouldfacehermemoriesindifferently,thenthedaywhenshefeltnonecessitytofacethem.Itwasfinishedandofnoconcerntoheranylonger.

           Therehadbeennoothermeninherlife.Shedidnotknowwhetherthishadmadeherunhappy.Shehadhadnotimetoknow.