Атлант расправил плечи

           Theybothleapedtotheirfeet,andthesecretaryrushedforward,smilingwithrelief,hasteningtoopenthedoor.

           AssheenteredDanagger’soffice,Dagnysawtheprivateexitdoorclosingafterthecallerwhohadprecededher.Sheheardtheknockofthedooragainstthejambandthefainttinkleoftheglasspanel.

           Shesawthemanwhohadleft,byhisreflectiononKenDanagger’sface.Itwasnotthefaceshehadseeninthecourtroom,itwasnotthefaceshehadknownforyearsasacountenanceofunchanging,unfeelingrigidity—itwasafacewhichayoungmanoftwentyshouldhopefor,butcouldnotachieve,afacefromwhicheverysignofstrainhadbeenwipedout,sothatthelinedcheeks,thecreasedforehead,thegrayinghair—likeelementsrearrangedbyanewtheme—weremadetoformacompositionofhope,eagernessandguiltlessserenity:thethemewasdeliverance.

           Hedidnotrisewhensheentered—helookedasifhehadnotquitereturnedtotherealityofthemomentandhadforgottentheproperroutine—buthesmiledatherwithsuchsimplebenevolencethatshefoundherselfsmilinginanswer.Shecaughtherselfthinkingthatthiswasthewayeveryhumanbeingshouldgreetanother—andshelostheranxiety,feelingsuddenlycertainthatallwaswellandthatnothingtobefearedcouldexist.

           "Howdoyoudo,MissTaggart,"hesaid."Forgiveme,IthinkthatIhavekeptyouwaiting.Pleasesitdown."Hepointedtothechairinfrontofhisdesk.