[That's a nice thing for her to say, and not all of his doctors over the past year would have expressed such a sentiment. That wins her even more of his favor, even if he can't really take the notion to heart.]

It's not given easily.

[He smiles a little.] I've not been known as a particularly pleasant patient. It's nothing personal, and you've been great so far. But I'll try to be on my best behavior all the same.