If he had not been mortified before, Aldous most certainly was now.

Was that pity in her voice, in her eyes, or was Aldous simply projecting?

(In the evening light, he could not even quite make out the colour of her eyes, so probably the latter.)

Regardless, the wizard certainly did feel a blush of shame that reached even the tips of his ears, and he could not bear to look the young lady in the face, never mind the eyes.

"I should not like to be a bother," came the quiet response.