Я, Робот

           "Iseeintominds,yousee,"therobotcontinued,"andyouhavenoideahowcomplicatedtheyare.Ican’tbegintounderstandeverythingbecausemyownmindhassolittleincommonwiththem–butItry,andyournovelshelp."

           "Yes,butI’mafraidthataftergoingthroughsomeoftheharrowingemotionalexperiencesofourpresent-daysentimentalnovel"–therewasatingeofbitternessinhervoice–"youfindrealmindslikeoursdullandcolorless."

           "ButIdon’t!"

           Thesuddenenergyintheresponsebroughttheothertoherfeet.Shefeltherselfreddening,andthoughtwildly,"Hemustknow!"

           Herbiesubsidedsuddenly,andmutteredinalowvoicefromwhichthemetallictimbredepartedalmostentirely."But,ofcourse,Iknowaboutit,Dr.Calvin.Youthinkofitalways,sohowcanIhelpbutknow?"

           Herfacewashard."Haveyou–toldanyone?"

           "Ofcoursenot!"This,withgenuinesurprise."Noonehasaskedme."

           "Well,then,"sheflungout,"IsupposeyouthinkIamafool."

           "No!Itisanormalemotion."

           "Perhapsthatiswhyitissofoolish."Thewistfulnessinhervoicedrownedouteverythingelse.Someofthewomanpeeredthroughthelayerofdoctorhood."Iamnotwhatyouwouldcall–attractive."

           "Ifyouarereferringtomerephysicalattraction,Icouldn’tjudge.ButIknow,inanycase,thatthereareothertypesofattraction."

           "Noryoung."Dr.Calvinhadscarcelyheardtherobot.

           "Youarenotyetforty."AnanxiousinsistencehadcreptintoHerbie’svoice.