Ah... yes. I can understand the desire not to cause offense.

[And thinking about it, Eley had never been in a situation before where he had especially disliked a gift he'd received. Would he really have to accept it regardless, no matter how it made him feel? That... didn't seem right.]

A gift is something that you give to someone you have a liking for however. A friend, yes? So why would a friend give you cause to embarrass yourself like this?