Answer:
The boy wishes to pay for the girl's chocolate, possibly to win her affection. But the chocolate costs more money than he has. So he offers a sort of tacit negotiation with the saleswoman, providing an orange in place of money. The woman is likely lenient because he is only twelve and because she can guess at his motivations. She is said to know 'very well what it was all about'. The boy's decision to barter suggests that he is both determined and daring. "I didn't say anything. I took the nickel from my pocket, then an orange, and set them quietly on the counter." He doesn't attempt to justify himself or to explain. He simply places the orange on the counter instead of money. Perhaps this suggests that he is also naive and ingenuous.
Explanation:
