Атлант расправил плечи
The Sacred and the Profane
Hehadoftenmetgirlsofthelowerclasses,whohadputonabrashlittleact,pretendingtolookuptohim,spillingcrudeflatteryforanobviouspurpose;hehadneitherlikednorresentedthem;hehadfoundaboredamusementintheircompanyandhehadgrantedthemthestatusofhisequalsinagameheconsiderednaturaltobothplayersinvolved.Thisgirlwasdifferent.Theunutteredwordsinhismindwere:Thedamnlittlefoolmeansit.
Thathewaitedforherimpatiently,whenhestoodintherainonthesidewalk,thatshewastheonepersonheneededtonight,didnotdisturbhimorstrikehimasacontradiction.Hedidnotnamethenatureofhisneed.Theunnamedandtheunutteredcouldnotclashintoacontradiction.
Whenshecameout,henotedthepeculiarcombinationofhershynessandofherheadheldhigh.Sheworeanuglyraincoat,madeworsebyagobofcheapjewelryonthelapel,andasmallhatofplushflowersplanteddefiantlyamonghercurls.Strangely,theliftofherheadmadetheapparelseemattractive;itstressedhowwellsheworeeventhethingsshewore.
"Wanttocometomyplaceandhaveadrinkwithme?"heasked.
Shenoddedsilently,solemnly,asifnottrustingherselftofindtherightwordsofacceptance.Thenshesaid,notlookingathim,asifstatingittoherself,"Youdidn’twanttoseeanybodytonight,butyouwanttoseeme..."Hehadneverheardsosolemnatoneofprideinanyone’svoice.
