Атлант расправил плечи
The Chain
"Oh,Iknow!Butcouldn’tImakeaformalappointmentwithyou,wayinadvance,justlikeanyrailroadexecutive,automobilemanufacturerorjunk—Imean,scrap—dealer?Theysayyounevermissanappointment.Ofcourse,I’dletyoupickthedatetosuityourconvenience."Shewaslookingupathim,herglanceacquiringsomespecialqualityoffeminineappealbybeingsentfromunderherloweredforeheaduptowardhisfullheight;sheasked,alittletoocasuallyandtoocautiously,"ThedateIhadinmindwasDecembertenth,butwouldyouprefertheninthortheeleventh?"
"Itmakesnodifferencetome."
Shesaidgently,"Decembertenthisourweddinganniversary,Henry."
Theywereallwatchinghisface;iftheyexpectedalookofguilt,whattheysaw,instead,wasafaintsmileofamusement.Shecouldnothaveintendedthisasatrap,hethought,becausehecouldescapeitsoeasily,byrefusingtoacceptanyblameforhisforgetfulnessandbyleavingherspurned;sheknewthathisfeelingforherwasheronlyweapon.Hermotive,hethought,wasaproudlyindirectattempttotesthisfeelingandtoconfessherown.Apartywasnothisformofcelebration,butitwashers.Itmeantnothinginhisterms;inhers,itmeantthebesttributeshecouldoffertohimandtotheirmarriage.Hehadtorespectherintention,hethought,evenifhedidnotshareherstandards,evenifhedidnotknowwhetherhestillcaredforanytributefromher.Hehadtoletherwin,hethought,becauseshehadthrownherselfuponhismercy.
