Дары волхвов

           Thensheheardhissteponthestairawaydownonthefirstflight, andsheturnedwhiteforjustamoment. Shehadahabitforsayinglittlesilentprayers aboutthesimplesteverydaythings, andnowshewhispered: 

           "PleaseGod,makehimthinkIamstillpretty." 

           ThedooropenedandJimsteppedinandclosedit. Helookedthinandveryserious. Poorfellow,hewasonlytwenty-two—andtobeburdenedwithafamily! Heneededanewovercoatandhewaswithoutgloves. 

           Jimstoppedinsidethedoor, asimmovableasasetteratthescentofquail. HiseyeswerefixeduponDella, andtherewasanexpressioninthemthatshecouldnotread, anditterrifiedher. Itwasnotanger, norsurprise, nordisapproval, norhorror, noranyofthesentiments thatshehadbeenpreparedfor. Hesimplystaredatherfixedly withthatpeculiarexpressiononhisface. 

           Dellawriggledoffthetableandwentforhim. 

           "Jim,darling,"shecried, "don’tlookatmethatway. Ihadmyhaircutoffandsold becauseIcouldn’thavelivedthroughChristmaswithoutgivingyouapresent. It’llgrowoutagain —youwon’tmind,willyou? Ijusthadtodoit. Myhairgrowsawfullyfast. Say‘MerryChristmas!’Jim,andlet’sbehappy. Youdon’tknowwhatanice—whatabeautiful,nicegiftI’vegotforyou." 

           "You’vecutoffyourhair?"askedJim,laboriously, asifhehadnotarrivedatthatpatentfactyetevenafterthehardestmentallabor. 

           "Cutitoffandsoldit,"saidDella. "Don’tyoulikemejustaswell,anyhow? I’mmewithoutmyhair,ain’tI?"