Атлант расправил плечи
The Non-commercial
Itwasablackdresswithabodicethatfellasacapeoveronearmandshoulder,leavingtheotherbare;thenakedshoulderwasthegown’sonlyornament.Seeingherinthesuitsshewore,oneneverthoughtofDagnyTaggart’sbody.Theblackdressseemedexcessivelyrevealing—becauseitwasastonishingtodiscoverthatthelinesofhershoulderwerefragileandbeautiful,andthatthediamondbandonthewristofhernakedarmgaveherthemostfeminineofallaspects:thelookofbeingchained.
"MissTaggart,itissuchawonderfulsurprisetoseeyouhere,"saidLillianRearden,themusclesofherfaceperformingthemotionsofasmile."Ihadnotreallydaredtohopethataninvitationfrommewouldtakeyouawayfromyoureversomuchweightierconcerns.Dopermitmetofeelflattered."
JamesTaggarthadenteredwithhissister.Lilliansmiledathim,inthemannerofahastypostscript,asifnoticinghimforthefirsttime.
"Hello,James.That’syourpenaltyforbeingpopular—onetendstolosesightofyouinthesurpriseofseeingyoursister."
"Noonecanmatchyouinpopularity,Lillian,"heanswered,smilingthinly,"noreverlosesightofyou."
"Me?Oh,butIamquiteresignedtotakingsecondplaceintheshadowofmyhusband.Iamhumblyawarethatthewifeofagreatmanhastobecontentedwithreflectedglory—don’tyouthinkso,MissTaggart?"
"No,"saidDagny,"Idon’t."
"Isthisacomplimentorareproach,MissTaggart?ButdoforgivemeifIconfessI’mhelpless.
