"I hardly think that's necessary. I have an interest in the results of the judging. My wife has baked a cake."
"I had no idea that cake-baking was so popular a human avocation."
"Anything that requires skill is sure to become popular among us. By the way, Ronar, I hope you don't feel hurt."
"Hurt, Doctor? What do you mean?"
"Come now, you understand me well enough. These people still don't trust you. I can tell by the way they keep their distance."
"I take human frailty into account, Doctor. Frailty, and lack of opportunity. These men and women haven't had the opportunity for extensive psychological treatment that I've had. I don't expect too much of them."
"You've scored a point there, Ronar."
"Isn't there something that can be done for them, Doctor? Some treatment that it would be legal to give them?"
"It would have to be voluntary. You see, Ronar, you were considered only an animal, and treatment was necessary to save your life. But these people are supposed to have rights. One of their rights is to be left alone with their infirmities. Besides, none of them are seriously ill. They hurt no one."
For a second Ronar had a human temptation. It was on the tip of his tongue to say, "Your wife too, Doctor? People wonder how you stand her." But he resisted it. He had resisted more serious temptations.