[He realizes what he'd said in his enthusiasm only well after it's said. Score one for being able to keep these things appropriately secret--

Well, better next time and since she'd allowed as how that bit of her magic wasn't working right, it was--perhaps--not so bad as it could've been.]

Oh, gladly--we need all the help we can get here, most days, [dryly.] Though I'd not like to steal you from whatever else you're doing--who're you working with, if you don't mind my asking? Which projects?