Атлант расправил плечи

           Shecouldnotbelievethathewasavoidingherintentionally;therecouldbenopossiblereasonforit;yetshefeltcertainthathewas.Shewantedtoapproachhimandconvinceherselfthatshewasmistaken.Somethingstoppedher;shecouldnotunderstandherownreluctance.

           Reardenborepatientlyaconversationwithhismotherandtwoladieswhomshewishedhimtoentertainwithstoriesofhisyouthandhisstruggle.Hecomplied,tellinghimselfthatshewasproudofhiminherownway.Buthefeltasifsomethinginhermannerkeptsuggestingthatshehadnursedhimthroughhisstruggleandthatshewasthesourceofhissuccess.Hewasgladwhenshelethimgo.Thenheescapedoncemoretotherecessofthewindow.

           Hestoodthereforawhile,leaningonasenseofprivacyasifitwereaphysicalsupport.

           "Mr.Rearden,"saidastrangelyquietvoicebesidehim,"permitmetointroducemyself.Mynameisd‘Anconia."

           Reardenturned,startled;d‘Anconia’smannerandvoicehadaqualityhehadseldomencounteredbefore:atoneofauthenticrespect.

           "Howdoyoudo,"heanswered.Hisvoicewasbrusqueanddry;buthehadanswered.

           "IhaveobservedthatMrs.Reardenhasbeentryingtoavoidthenecessityofpresentingmetoyou,andIcanguessthereason.WouldyoupreferthatIleaveyourhouse?"

           Theactionofnaminganissueinsteadofevadingit,wassounliketheusualbehaviorofallthemenheknew,itwassuchasudden,startlingrelief,thatReardenremainedsilentforamoment,studyingd‘Anconia’sface.