Edmund was shaking and he hated it.  Clenched his fists to try and hide that fact as he tried to calm himself.

"No," he said, "no, Francis, you didn't fail me, you didn't do anything wrong.  I - I shouldn't have let you go after Mable, that's not your fault."  He looked around the street and took a step closer to the other.  Not close enough to be suspicious or telling, just close enough to remind him that he was there, even if he wouldn't look at him.

"It's fine, it's alright, I promise.  I - I appreciate your concern, I really do.  I guess I'm just - I dunno.  Worried, all the time, about everything."