Why it was to her great relief she did not know--because something in the simple act annoyed her, even while she congratulated herself that her hesitance had been absurd.

The next moment she wondered if it could be possible that he had expected a larger fee.

He opened his hand and looked at the money with a grim steadiness.
"Thank you, miss," he said, and touched his cap in the proper manner.
He did not look gracious or grateful, but he began to put it in a small pocket in the breast of his worn corduroy shooting jacket.

Suddenly he stopped, as if with abrupt resolve.

He handed the coin back without any change of his glum look.
"Hang it all," he said, "I can't take this, you know.