Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
Shedidnotknowwhattosay,butshesmiledandansweredwhatevershepleased.Shecouldnotdisgracethepersonof"Mrs.Taggart"byanytouchoffear.
Thenshesawtheenemy.Itwasatall,slenderfigureinagrayeveninggown,whowasnowhersister-in-law.
ThepressureofangerinCherryl’smindwasthestoredaccumulationofthesoundsofJim’storturedvoice.Shefeltthenaggingpullofadutyleftundone.Hereyeskeptreturningtotheenemyandstudyingherintently.ThepicturesofDagnyTaggartinthenewspapershadshownafiguredressedinslacks,orafacewithaslantinghatbrimandaraisedcoatcollar.Nowsheworeagrayeveninggownthatseemedindecent,becauseitlookedausterelymodest,somodestthatitvanishedfromone’sawarenessandleftonetooawareoftheslenderbodyitpretendedtocover.Therewasatoneofblueinthegraycloththatwentwiththegun-metalgrayofhereyes.Sheworenojewelry,onlyabraceletonherwrist,achainofheavymetallinkswithagreenbluecast.
Cherrylwaited,untilshesawDagnystandingalone,thentoreforward,cuttingresolutelyacrosstheroom.Shelookedatcloserangeintothegun-metaleyesthatseemedcoldandintenseatonce,theeyesthatlookedatherdirectlywithapolite,impersonalcuriosity.
"There’ssomethingIwantyoutoknow,"saidCherryl,hervoicetautandharsh,"sothattherewon’tbeanypretendingaboutit.I’mnotgoingtoputonthesweetrelativeact.
