He frowned slowly, the gaiety of the moment robbed by his callous words.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean..." he trailed off with a sigh, reaching out to scrape the bits into a basket under the table. "I'm sure everything will be fine. People come back, I've heard. Perhaps the young woman will as well. She seemed very kind, if a little...ah...aggressive. Sure this world isn't done with her? We need all the help we can get, right? Please, don't let my foolish words spoil your good fun..."