Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"Don’tgetup—staythere—it’ssoobviousthatyou’vebeenwaitingformethatIwanttolookatitlonger."
Hesaidit,fromthedoorwayofherapartment,seeingherstretchedinanarmchair,seeingtheeagerlittlejoltthatthrewhershouldersforwardasshewasabouttorise;hewassmiling.
Henoted—asifsomepartofhimwerewatchinghisreactionswithdetachedcuriosity—thathissmileandhissuddensenseofgaietywerereal.Hegraspedafeelingthathehadalwaysexperienced,butneveridentifiedbecauseithadalwaysbeenabsoluteandimmediate:afeelingthatforbadehimevertofaceherinpain.Itwasmuchmorethantheprideofwishingtoconcealhissuffering:itwasthefeelingthatsufferingmustnotbegrantedrecognitioninherpresence,thatnoformofclaimbetweenthemshouldeverbemotivatedbypainandaimedatpity.Itwasnotpitythathebroughthereorcameheretofind.
"DoyoustillneedproofthatI’malwayswaitingforyou?"sheasked,leaningobedientlybackinherchair;hervoicewasneithertendernorpleading,butbrightandmocking.
"Dagny,whyisitthatmostwomenwouldneveradmitthat,butyoudo?"
"Becausethey’reneversurethattheyoughttobewanted.Iam."
"Idoadmireself-confidence."
"Self-confidencewasonlyonepartofwhatIsaid,Hank.
