Атлант расправил плечи

           Surely,hethought,thepoorfoolknowshe’satmymercy,knowshe’sopenedhimselftobehurt,soIdon’thavetodoit,andmynotdoingitismybestanswer,whichhewon’tbeabletomiss.Whatsortofmiserydoeshereallylivein,togethimselftwistedquitesobadly?

           AndthenReardenthoughtsuddenlythathecouldbreakthroughPhilip’schronicwretchednessforonce,givehimashockofpleasure,theunexpectedgratificationofahopelessdesire.Hethought:WhatdoIcareaboutthenatureofhisdesire?—it’shis,justasReardenMetalwasmine—itmustmeantohimwhatthatmeanttome—let’sseehimhappyjustonce,itmightteachhimsomething—didn’tIsaythathappinessistheagentofpurification?—I’mcelebratingtonight,solethimshareinit—itwillbesomuchforhim,andsolittleforme.

           "Philip,"hesaid,smiling,"callMissIvesatmyofficetomorrow.She’llhaveacheckforyoufortenthousanddollars."

           Philipstaredathimblankly;itwasneithershocknorpleasure;itwasjusttheemptystareofeyesthatlookedglassy.

           "Oh,"saidPhilip,thenadded,"We’llappreciateitverymuch."Therewasnoemotioninhisvoice,noteventhesimpleoneofgreed.

           Reardencouldnotunderstandhisownfeeling:itwasasifsomethingleadenandemptywerecollapsingwithinhim,hefeltboththeweightandtheemptiness,together.Heknewitwasdisappointment,buthewonderedwhyitwassograyandugly.

           "It’sveryniceofyou,Henry,"Philipsaiddryly."I’msurprised.Ididn’texpectitofyou."