Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
Theonlywaytobeworthyofhim,shethought,wasnevertoaskhimforanything.Heofferedhermoneyonce,andsherefusedit,withsuchabright,painfulflareofangerinhereyesthathedidnotattemptitagain.Theangerwasatherself:shewonderedwhethershehaddonesomethingtomakehimthinkshewasthatkindofperson.
Butshedidnotwanttobeungratefulforhisconcern,ortoembarrasshimbyheruglypoverty;shewantedtoshowhimhereagernesstoriseandjustifyhisfavor;soshetoldhimthathecouldhelpher,ifhewished,byhelpinghertofindabetterjob.Hedidnotanswer.Intheweeksthatfollowed,shewaited,buthenevermentionedthesubject.
Sheblamedherself:shethoughtthatshehadoffendedhim,thathehadtakenitasanattempttousehim.
Whenhegaveheranemeraldbracelet,shewastooshockedtounderstand.Tryingdesperatelynottohurthim,shepleadedthatshecouldnotacceptit."Whynot?"heasked."Itisn’tasifyouwereabadwomanpayingtheusualpriceforit.AreyouafraidthatI’llstartmakingdemands?Don’tyoutrustme?"Helaughedaloudatherstammeringembarrassment.Hesmiled,withanoddkindofenjoyment,allthroughtheeveningwhentheywenttoanightclubandsheworethebraceletwithhershabbyblackdress.
Hemadeherwearthatbraceletagain,onthenightwhenhetookhertoaparty,agreatreceptiongivenbyMrs.CorneliasPope.
