Атлант расправил плечи

           Therewasasenseofweightlessfreedom—thoughtDagny—inthefeelingthatatelephoneboothwasheronlyimmediate,absolutegoal,withnoconcernforanyofthegoalsofthepassers-byinthestreetsaroundher.Itdidnotmakeherfeelestrangedfromthecity:itmadeherfeel,forthefirsttime,thatsheownedthecityandthatshelovedit,thatshehadneverloveditbeforeasshedidinthismoment,withsopersonal,solemnandconfidentasenseofpossession.Thenightwasstillandclear;shelookedatthesky;asherfeelingwasmoresolemnthanjoyous,butheldthesenseofafuturejoy—sotheairwasmorewindlessthanwarm,butheldthehintofadistantspring.

           Getthehelloutofmyway—shethought,notwithresentment,butalmostwithamusement,withasenseofdetachmentanddeliverance,addressingittothepassers-by,tothetrafficwhenitimpededherhurriedprogress,andtoanyfearshehadknowninthepast.Itwaslessthananhouragothatshehadheardhimutterthatsentence,andhisvoicestillseemedtoringintheairofthestreets,mergingintoadistanthintoflaughter.

           Shehadlaughedexultantly,intheballroomoftheWayne-Falkland,whenshehadheardhimsayit;shehadlaughed,herhandpressedtohermouth,sothatthelaughterwasonlyinhereyes—andinhis,whenhehadlookedstraightatherandshehadknownthatheheardit.