Атлант расправил плечи
The Non-commercial
Hestoodstill,feelingfreeofdesire,feelingthebleakreliefofindifferencetohisbody,tothisroom,eventohispresencehere.Hehadturnedawayfromher,nottoseeherlacqueredchastity.Whathethoughtheshouldfeelwasrespect;whathefeltwasrevulsion.
"...butDr.Pritchettsaidthatourcultureisdyingbecauseouruniversitieshavetodependonthealmsofthemeatpackers,thesteelpuddlersandthepurveyorsofbreakfastcereals."
Whyhadshemarriedhim?—hethought.Thatbright,crispvoicewasnottalkingatrandom.Sheknewwhyhehadcomehere.Sheknewwhatitwoulddotohimtoseeherpickupasilverbufferandgoontalkinggaily,polishingherfingernails.Shewastalkingabouttheparty.ButshedidnotmentionBertramScudder-—orDagnyTaggart.
Whathadshesoughtinmarryinghim?Hefeltthepresenceofsomecold,drivingpurposewithinher—butfoundnothingtocondemn.Shehadnevertriedtousehim.Shemadenodemandsonhim.Shefoundnosatisfactionintheprestigeofindustrialpower—shespurnedit—shepreferredherowncircleoffriends.Shewasnotaftermoney—shespentlittle—shewasindifferenttothekindofextravagancehecouldhaveafforded.Hehadnorighttoaccuseher,hethought,orevertobreakthebond.Shewasawomanofhonorintheirmarriage.Shewantednothingmaterialfromhim.
Heturnedandlookedatherwearily.
"Nexttimeyougiveaparty,"hesaid,"sticktoyourowncrowd.Don’tinvitewhatyouthinkaremyfriends.Idon’tcaretomeetthemsocially."
