Атлант расправил плечи

           WhenmyhusbandleftTwentiethCentury,wecamehereandhetookajobasheadoftheengineeringdepartmentofAcmeMotors.Itwasagrowing,successfulconcernatthetime.Itgavemyhusbandthekindofworkheliked.Hewasnotapersonpronetoinnerconflicts,hehadalwaysbeensureofhisactionsandatpeacewithhimself.ButforawholeyearafterweleftWisconsin,heactedasifheweretorturedbysomething,asifhewerestrugglingwithapersonalproblemhecouldnotsolve.Attheendofthatyear,hecametomeonemorningandtoldmethathehadresignedfromAcmeMotors,thathewasretiringandwouldnotworkanywhereelse.Helovedhiswork;itwashiswholelife.Yethelookedcalm,self-confidentandhappy,forthefirsttimesincewe’dcomehere.Heaskedmenottoquestionhimaboutthereasonofhisdecision.Ididn’tquestionhimandIdidn’tobject.Wehadthishouse,wehadoursavings,wehadenoughtoliveonmodestlyfortherestofourdays.Ineverlearnedhisreason.Wewentonlivinghere,quietlyandveryhappily.Heseemedtofeelaprofoundcontentment.HehadanoddserenityofspiritthatIhadneverseeninhimbefore.Therewasnothingstrangeinhisbehaviororactivity—exceptthatattimes,Veryrarely,hewentoutwithouttellingmewherehewentorwhomhesaw.Inthelasttwoyearsofhislife,hewentawayforonemonth,eachsummer;hedidnottellmewhere.Otherwise,helivedashealwayshad.