[ that blush deepens even more and his eyes are fairly shining now as he gazes upon the lovely Angelina Dallas. ]

Your compliments are medicine to a parched soul, my lady! You truly are a doctor of the highest caliber.

[ and he means every single word as well, but he contained his brightness and sobered up slightly at the mention of the locket. ]

But I'm afraid I was of the same bent; if not for the goodwill of another guest at the feast a few nights ago, I would have put away this locket as a trinket for my late wife.

[ because, fool that Oscar was, he wondered if, somehow, in this land of magic, perhaps his wife still lived. ]