[Right. Going over their predicament over and over isn't helping anyone, and she doesn't want to come off as the complete downer she really is deep inside. While not as quick as him to change her expression, she does smile after a moment.]
It's my understanding that compared to most people here it isn't long at all. [It feels like an eternity to her. She also doesn't acknowledge the sing-song tone at all - polite, but completely uncharmed. Trust her, Ian, you don't really want to woo her.] I arrived about four weeks ago.
[Totally nothing strange about them not having met in that time.] May I ask the same of you?