Атлант расправил плечи

           Itwasatdinner,thatevening,thatheaskedhertomarryhim.

           Ittookhimsometimeafterhismarriagebeforeheadmittedtohimselfthatthiswastorture.Hestillrememberedthenightwhenheadmittedit,whenhetoldhimself—theveinsofhiswristspulledtightashestoodbythebed,lookingdownatLillian—thathedeservedthetortureandthathewouldendureit.Lillianwasnotlookingathim;shewasadjustingherhair."MayIgotosleepnow?"sheasked.

           Shehadneverobjected;shehadneverrefusedhimanything;.shesubmittedwheneverhewished.Shesubmittedinthemannerofcomplyingwiththerulethatitwas,attimes,herdutytobecomeaninanimateobjectturnedovertoherhusband’suse.

           Shedidnotcensurehim.Shemadeitclearthatshetookitforgrantedthatmenhaddegradinginstinctswhichconstitutedthesecret,uglypartofmarriage.Shewascondescendinglytolerant.Shesmiled,inamuseddistaste,attheintensityofwhatheexperienced."It’sthemostundignifiedpastimeIknowof,"shesaidtohimonce,"butIhaveneverentertainedtheillusionthatmenaresuperiortoanimals."

           Hisdesireforherhaddiedinthefirstweekoftheirmarriage.Whatremainedwasonlyaneedwhichhewasunabletodestroy.Hehadneverenteredawhorehouse;hethought,attimes,thattheself-loathinghewouldexperiencetherecouldbenoworsethanwhathefeltwhenhewasdriventoenterhiswife’sbedroom.

           Hewouldoftenfindherreadingabook.Shewouldputitaside,withawhiteribbontomarkthepages.