She had slipped close to his side and he could hear her quick intake of breath.
“That's—so—sweet of you, Jim. I'm sorry—I—spoiled the surprise—you'd—planned——”
“Oh, what's the difference!” he broke in carelessly. “It's all the same five minutes after, anyhow. Well, don't you like 'em? Why don't you say something?”
“They're wonderful, Jim. Where—where—did you buy them?”
He held her gaze in silence for an instant and fenced.
“Isn't that a funny question, Kiddo?” he said in low tones. “I once heard the old man I worked with in the shop say that you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“I just want to know,” she insisted.
“I'm not going to tell you!” he said with a dry laugh.
“Why not?”
“Because you keep asking.”