He calmed to a giggle, but his words still came out jumpy and giddy with laughter themselves.

"All right, all right. No stumps. Not for the time being anyway." The laughter welled up again, then passed as much as it would. "Oh, but what I wouldn't give to draw out that power of yours and see it for myself--no, not in another demonstration, dear heart, not for the world. But I would love to pull it out and take it apart and take it, well, to heart myself. It seems a pretty thing."