[he raises an eyebrow, but smiles still] Ah, well-- I suppose sometimes age doesn't tell you much. But to be honest, I'm surprised to hear you speak so confidently after arriving here so recently.

[At this point, he's decided that she's grown up either her whole life, or most of it without a mother and father-- if only from personal experience. Of course, he isn't going to say that---but]

You must have a lot of responsibilities yourself, back home.