"I believe it was when you set us a quite frankly ridiculous assignment that made it rather clear that you were allowing your personal life to interfere with your professional conduct." He said it flatly and without any particular malice, but if the professor says he can speak plainly then he certainly will.

"I expressed concern, and I believe..." He paused to think - it had been a while. "You told me to stop 'acting like a kicked puppy', sir."