[ Good boy. His smile becomes a bit more genuine, knowing his quiet message was received. ] Something about clothes. She seemed to think she'd seen something of mine.

[ He'd considered going with her, but he felt that his presence might be as much a weight as it was a reassurance. He'd let her stay as long as the latter seemed to outweigh the former...but when she'd suggested the shops, he'd urged her to go on without him while he skimmed over the rather curious book he'd been given. ]