He hoped that this food would not encourage the chit to pursue some kind of relationship with him beyond platonic friendship, if friendship was even a remote possibility. He managed to hide any disgust he might feel for the situation, and intended to somehow wrench himself free. He said, "Well then," he bought her meat pie to be polite, nothing more, nothing less, pasted on a smile, and ate one of his own. He forgot about her for a moment in genuine surprise at the flakiness of the crust. Delicious.