Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
Forthefirsttime,shesawthatshedidhavesomethingtoofferJim:thesepeoplewereasmeanandsmallasthepeoplefromwhomshehadescapedinBuffalo;hewasaslonelyasshehadalwaysbeen,andthesincerityofherfeelingwastheonlyrecognitionhehadfound.
Thenshewalkedbackintotheballroom,cuttingstraightthroughthecrowd,andtheonlythingleftofthetearsshehadtriedtoholdbackinthedarknessoftheterrace,wasthefiercelyluminoussparkleofhereyes.Ifhewishedtostandbyheropenly,eventhoughshewasonlyashopgirl,ifhewishedtoflauntit,ifhehadbroughtherheretofacetheindignationofhisfriends—thenitwasthegestureofacourageousmandefyingtheiropinion,andshewaswillingtomatchhiscouragebyservingasthescarecrowoftheoccasion.
Butshewasgladwhenitwasover,whenshesatbesidehiminhiscar,drivinghomethroughthedarkness.Shefeltableakkindofrelief.Herbattlingdefianceebbedintoastrange,desolatefeeling;shetriednottogivewaytoit.Jimsaidlittle;hesatlookingsullenlyoutthecarwindow;shewonderedwhethershehaddisappointedhiminsomemanner.
Onthestoopofherroominghouse,shesaidtohimforlornly,"I’msorryifIletyoudown...
