Атлант расправил плечи

           Theywereindifferenttotheissue,theyweremerelyamusedbythespectacleofsomeone’sembarrassment.Taggartachievedapatronizingsmile.

           "Youdon’texpectmetotakethisseriously?"heasked.

           "Therewasatime,"Franciscoanswered,"whenIdidnotbelievethatanyonecouldtakeitseriously.Iwaswrong."

           "Thisisoutrageous!"Taggart’svoicestartedtorise."It’sperfectlyoutrageoustotreatyourpublicresponsibilitieswithsuchthoughtlesslevity!"Heturnedtohurryaway.

           Franciscoshrugged,spreadinghishands."Yousee?Ididn’tthinkyouwantedtospeaktome."

           Reardenstoodalone,farattheotherendoftheroom.Philipnoticedhim,approachedandwavedtoLillian,callingherover.

           "Lillian,Idon’tthinkthatHenryishavingagoodtime,"hesaid,smiling;onecouldnottellwhetherthemockeryofhissmilewasdirectedatLillianoratRearden."Can’twedosomethingaboutit?"

           "Oh,nonsense!"saidRearden.

           "IwishIknewwhattodoaboutit,Philip,"saidLillian."I’vealwayswishedHenrywouldlearntorelax.He’ssogrimlyseriousabouteverything.He’ssucharigidPuritan.I’vealwayswantedtoseehimdrunk,justonce.ButI’vegivenup.Whatwouldyousuggest?"

           "Oh,Idon’tknow!Butheshouldn’tbestandingaroundallbyhimself."

           "Dropit,"saidRearden.Whilethinkingdimlythathedidnotwanttohurttheirfeelings,hecouldnotpreventhimselffromadding,"Youdon’tknowhowhardI’vetriedtobeleftstandingallbymyself."