Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Onceamonth,sincehisreturntoUtah,shehadsenthimacheckandhehadsentherareportonhiswork.Itwastooearlytohope,buthisreportsweretheonlybrightpointsinthestagnantfogofherdaysintheoffice.

           Sheraisedherhead,asshefinishedreadinghispages.Thecalendarinthedistancesaid:September2.Thelightsofthecityhadgrownbeneathit,spreadingandglittering.ShethoughtofRearden.Shewishedhewereinthecity;shewishedshewouldseehimtonight.

           Then,noticingthedate,sherememberedsuddenlythatshehadtorushhometodress,becauseshehadtoattendJim’sweddingtonight.

           ShehadnotseenJim,outsidetheoffice,foroverayear.Shehadnotmethisfiancee,butshehadreadenoughabouttheengagementinthenewspapers.Sherosefromherdeskinwearilydistastefulresignation:itseemedeasiertoattendtheweddingthantobotherexplainingherabsenceafterwards.

           ShewashurryingacrosstheconcourseoftheTerminalwhensheheardavoicecalling,"MissTaggart!"withastrangenoteofurgencyandreluctance,together.Itstoppedherabruptly;shetookafewsecondstorealizethatitwastheoldmanatthecigarstandwhohadcalled.

           "I’vebeenwaitingtocatchsightofyoufordays.MissTaggart.I’vebeenextremelyanxioustospeaktoyou."Therewasanoddexpressiononhisface,thelookofaneffortnottolookfrightened.