Я, Робот

           Shemerelystared.Then,"Youaremistaken!Youmustbe.Whyshouldhe?"

           "Buthedoes.Athinglikethatcannotbehidden,notfromme."

           "ButIamso...so-"shestammeredtoahalt.

           "Helooksdeeperthantheskin,andadmiresintellectinothers.MiltonAsheisnotthetypetomarryaheadofhairandapairofeyes."

           SusanCalvinfoundherselfblinkingrapidlyandwaitedbeforespeaking.Eventhenhervoicetrembled,"Yethecertainlyneverinanywayindicated-"

           "Haveyouevergivenhimachance?"

           "HowcouldI?Ineverthoughtthat-"

           "Exactly!"

           Thepsychologistpausedinthoughtandthenlookedupsuddenly."Agirlvisitedhimhereattheplanthalfayearago.Shewaspretty,Isuppose–blondandslim.And,ofcourse,couldscarcelyaddtwoandtwo.Hespentalldaypuffingouthischest,tryingtoexplainhowarobotwasputtogether."Thehardnesshadreturned,"Notthatsheunderstood!Whowasshe?"

           Herbieansweredwithouthesitation,"Iknowthepersonyouarereferringto.Sheishisfirstcousin,andthereisnoromanticinterestthere,Iassureyou."

           SusanCalvinrosetoherfeetwithavivacityalmostgirlish."Nowisn’tthatstrange?That’sexactlywhatIusedtopretendtomyselfsometimes,thoughIneverreallythoughtso.Thenitallmustbetrue."

           SherantoHerbieandseizedhiscold,heavyhandinbothhers."Thankyou,Herbie."Hervoicewasanurgent,huskywhisper."Don’ttellanyoneaboutthis.Letitbeoursecret–andthankyouagain."Withthat,andaconvulsivesqueezeofHerbie’sunresponsivemetalfingers,sheleft.