Watson's tone added the unspoken rider "if that's the way you really feel about it," but she continued briskly.

He continued briskly for some minutes, hesitating only momentarily.

"We fought long and hard to erase that," he continued briskly.

She was quiet for a moment, then continued briskly.

"Very well," he continued briskly, after a short pause.

"Perhaps we need to start with an easier question," he continued briskly.

Instead I continued briskly: "Where do we head across these mountains?

"Now, listen to me," Jarre continued briskly, wiping her eyes.

"All right, let's get on with this," Belgarath continued briskly.

So," she continued briskly, "here's the situation the way I see it and you can disagree if you wish.