In this part of the story, Della has presented Jim his gift -- a beautiful watch chain for his prize watch. Della and Jim embrace, and the narrator suggests humorously that we turn discreetly away and consider something else in the apartment. This is "breaking the fourth wall" of fiction by suggesting Jim and Della are aware of readers being aware of them and would like privacy, so the readers should look away at something...
In this part of the story, Della has presented Jim his gift -- a beautiful watch chain for his prize watch. Della and Jim embrace, and the narrator suggests humorously that we turn discreetly away and consider something else in the apartment. This is "breaking the fourth wall" of fiction by suggesting Jim and Della are aware of readers being aware of them and would like privacy, so the readers should look away at something else in the flat. When we do, we are bound to notice their flat's simplicity -- there is nothing valuable in the flat. We must realize there is something invaluable in the flat that cannot be assigned a financial value: the love Jim and Della share. The narrator comments, "Eight dollars a week or a million a year -- what is the difference?" His point is Jim and Della's love falls outside the realm of monetary valuations. Likewise, the gifts of the Magi were trifles compared to the majesty of heaven, which the Christ-child left to come to Earth. It was the love represented by the gifts that God valued.
The narrator goes on to point out the wisdom of valuing love over material things. This sweet little scene where readers politely look away from the outward expression of the couple's love to consider what is truly valuable in the scene reinforces the author's message that those who "sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house" were truly wise, for they valued their love above their material possessions.
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