Tobias was right, and of course Edmund knew that, but that didn't make hearing what he had to say that any easier.  Instead of replying, he just nodded and looked down at his food.  Under the table, he squeezed Mable's hand, seeing her open her mouth to reply out of the corner of his eye.

She huffed, and closed it, also averting her eyes to her food.

"I'll learn," he managed quietly after a moment.  "It's not - it's not Mable's responsibility to teach me.  I'll find someone and - yeah.  I'll learn."