Атлант расправил плечи

           Shewasagirlinherlatetwenties,whosequietlyharmonious,impenetrablefacehadaqualitymatchingthebestdesignedofficeequipment;shewasoneofhismostruthlesslycompetentemployees;hermannerofperformingherdutiessuggestedthekindofrationalcleanlinessthatwouldconsideranyelementofemotion,whileatwork,asanunpardonableimmorality.

           Whentheemergencywasover,hersolecommentwas,"Mr.Rearden,IthinkweshouldaskalloursupplierstoshipviaTaggartTranscontinental.""I’mthinkingthat,too,"heanswered;thenadded,"WireFleminginColorado.TellhimI’mtakinganoptiononthatcoppermineproperty."

           Hewasbackathisdesk,speakingtohissuperintendentononephoneandtohispurchasingmanageronanother,checkingeverydateandtonoforeonhand—hecouldnotleavetochanceortoanotherpersonthepossibilityofasinglehour’sdelayintheflowofafurnace:itwasthelastoftherailfortheJohnGaltLinethatwasbeingpoured—whenthebuzzerrangandMissIves’voiceannouncedthathismotherwasoutside,demandingtoseehim.

           Hehadaskedhisfamilynevertocometothemillswithoutappointment.Hehadbeengladthattheyhatedtheplaceandseldomappearedinhisoffice.Whathenowfeltwasaviolentimpulsetoorderhismotheroffthepremises.Instead,withagreatereffortthantheproblemofthetrainwreckhadrequiredofhim,hesaidquietly,"Allright.Askhertocomein.