Атлант расправил плечи

           "Darling,"shesaid,"IactuallycamehereonlybecauseIkeptthinkingthatIhadahusbandandIwantedtofindoutwhathelookedlike."

           Shestudiedhimashestoodacrosstheroom,thetall,straight,tautlinesofhisbodyemphasizedbythesinglecolorofthedarkbluepajamas.

           "You’reveryattractive,"shesaid."Youlooksomuchbetter—theselastfewmonths.Younger.ShouldIsayhappier?Youlooklesstense.

           Oh,Iknowyou’rerushedmorethaneverandyouactlikeacommanderinanairraid,butthat’sonlythesurface.You’relesstense—inside."

           Helookedather,astonished.Itwastrue;hehadnotknownit,hadnotadmittedittohimself.Hewonderedatherpowerofobservation.

           Shehadseenlittleofhimintheselastfewmonths.HehadnotenteredherbedroomsincehisreturnfromColorado.Hehadthoughtthatshewouldwelcometheirisolationfromeachother.Nowhewonderedwhatmotivecouldhavemadehersosensitivetoachangeinhim—unlessitwasafeelingmuchgreaterthanhehadeversuspectedherofexperiencing.

           "Iwasnotawareofit,"hesaid.

           "It’squitebecoming,dear—andastonishing,sinceyou’vebeenhavingsuchaterriblydifficulttime."

           Hewonderedwhetherthiswasintendedasaquestion.