"Oh, well," has some fringe quality of humor or a scoff living at its very edge. Not laughing at him or the offer, certainly, but clearly on a similar page with respect to what kind of substitute Ellis might make for Mister Dickerson. They are very different people, with very different skills.

(Were? No, she will continue to think 'are,' if only because it may very well be true that whatever arcane energies had made up the older gentlemen may still be moving about the world, even if they no longer take the shape of a man.)

"That's very kind of you to offer, Mister Ellis. I will of course keep it under consideration."