"Nothing too specific!" he hastens to assure her. "It's not really my business. I just knew you were alive, and...old, I think."

It doesn't occur to him not to guess at a lady's age; to him, being old is hardly a bad thing. Her song must be long and beautiful. In the end he suspects it might be more than he could handle. Yet another good reason not to pry! "I only get impressions most of the time, unless I try for more."