[Perhaps such a mistake was inevitable, given the circumstances. And perhaps he ought to just be grateful that there was no lasting harm done, and that they had a chance to learn from it at all.]

I don't want that to happen again. [He can say that much with certainty, at least.] But as I said, I... don't have much experience with this sort of thing. So I wouldn't really know how to go about ensuring that it won't.

[Much as it might gall him to admit it, to cede control even in so small a way... it had to be done, if he didn't want to make the same mistake all over again.]