For a while he sat staring blindly straight before him.

Then slowly he leaned forward, and dropped his head into his hands.
Not till the tea was made did she so much as glance towards him, so intent to all seeming was she upon her task.

But when it was done, she looked at him sitting there bowed upon the settle, and very suddenly, very lightly, she came to his side.
"Jeff!" she said.
He neither moved nor spoke.
She laid a shy hand on his shoulder.

"Jeff!" Her voice was pleading and rather breathless, as though she would ask him to bear with her.

"I want to thank you so much--so very much--for your Christmas gift.