“Yes.”
“Why did you buy the Slazenger racket instead of the other one?”
I had forgotten the “Slazenger” for the moment. She had caught me unawares.
“Oh—oh,” I stammered, “well, it was a much better racket and—and, as you were buying one, it seemed foolish not to get the best.”
“I know. I wanted the better one very much, but I thought it too expensive. I did not feel that I should spend so much money.”
“That's all right. The difference wasn't so much and I made the change on my own responsibility. I—well, just consider that I bought the racket and you bought none.”
She regarded me intently. “You mean that you bought it as a present for me?” she said slowly.
“Yes; yes, if you will accept it as such.”
She was silent. I remembered perfectly well what she had said concerning presents from me and I wondered what I should do with that racket when she threw it back on my hands.
“Thank you,” she said. “I will accept it. Thank you very much.”