Атлант расправил плечи

           Shehadaheadofreddishbrowncurls,wide-seteyes,afewfrecklesonthebridgeofanupturnednose.Hethoughtthatonewouldcallherfaceattractiveifoneevernoticedit,buttherewasnoparticularreasontonoticeit.Itwasacommonlittleface,exceptforalookofalertness,ofeagerinterest,alookthatexpectedtheworldtocontainanexcitingsecretbehindeverycorner.

           "Mr.Taggart,howdoesitfeeltobeagreatman?"

           "Howdoesitfeeltobealittlegirl?"

           Shelaughed."Why,wonderful."

           "Thenyou’rebetteroffthanIam."

           "Oh,howcanyousaysucha—"

           "Maybeyou’reluckyifyoudon’thaveanythingtodowiththebigeventsinthenewspapers.Big.Whatdoyoucallbig,anyway?"

           "Why...important."

           "What’simportant?"

           "You’retheonewhooughttotellmethat,Mr.Taggart."

           "Nothing’simportant."

           Shelookedathimincredulously."You,ofallpeople,sayingthattonightofallnights!"

           "Idon’tfeelwonderfulatall,ifthat’swhatyouwanttoknow.I’veneverfeltlesswonderfulinmylife."

           Hewasastonishedtoseeherstudyinghisfacewithalookofconcernsuchasnoonehadevergrantedhim."You’rewornout,Mr.Taggart,"shesaidearnestly."Tellthemtogotohell.