They had nothing to give to her in return, and Mr. Bingle
afterwards said that it was greatly to their credit that they were
able to look at him with an accusation in their eyes, for, said he, it
went to prove that they were mortified over not being in a position to
observe the old rule about giving and receiving. As a matter of fact,
several of them tried to transfer to Kathleen the simple, inexpensive
presents he had just given to them out of his own humble pile, all of
which, he argued, went far toward establishing his point,
notwithstanding the fact that they manifestly despised the very things
they were so ready to give away. He overheard Frederick whispering to
Kathleen that he hoped he was going to a place where he could have
enough money to buy her the right kind of a present for her next
Christmas, and that it was rotten luck to be as poor as all this. Mr.
Bingle strained his ears to catch Kathleen's reply, and it was such
that his face brightened; he afterwards sidled up to her and stroked
her hair with loving, gentle fingers.
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