Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Oh,butIdid!"

           "Whydidn’tyoutellmethismorning,beforeIleft?"

           "Tosurpriseyou,darling."Shelaughedgaily."It’spracticallyimpossibletodragyoutoanysocialfunction,butIthoughtyoumightdoitlikethis,onthespurofthemoment,justtogooutandhaveagoodtime,asmarriedcouplesaresupposedto.Ithoughtyouwouldn’tmindit—you’vebeenstayingovernightinNewYorksooften!"

           Hesawthecasualglancethrownathimfromunderthebrimofherfashionablytiltedhat.Hesaidnothing.

           "Ofcourse,Iwasrunningarisk,"shesaid."Youmighthavebeentakingsomebodyouttodinner."Hesaidnothing."Orwereyou,perhaps,intendingtoreturnhometonight?"

           "No."

           "Didyouhaveanengagementforthisevening?"

           "No."

           "Fine."Shepointedathersuitcase."Ibroughtmyeveningclothes.

           WillyoubetmeacorsageoforchidsthatIcangetdressedfasterthanyoucan?"

           HethoughtthatDagnywouldbeatherbrother’sweddingtonight;theeveningdidnotmattertohimanylonger."I’lltakeyouout,ifyouwish,"hesaid,"butnottothatwedding."

           "Oh,butthat’swhereIwanttogo!It’sthemostpreposterouseventoftheseason,andeverybody’sbeenlookingforwardtoitforweeks,allmyfriends.Iwouldn’tmissitfortheworld.