Free biscuits

Going through the checkout at the supermarket today I noticed there was an open box of biscuits lying there. They looked like they were there to be eaten (rather than purchased).

I said to the lady, "Are these biscuits to be eaten?".

(meaning: by me, rather than purchased)

"Yes", she said. "Help yourself".

"Thanks", I said. "Any tea?".

I normally have tea with biscuits. On this occasion I didn't really expect tea. Biscuits were unusual at the checkout, tea would have been surreal.

She said, "We don't have any tea". 

I walked off eating my biscuit, tea-lessly. I think the problem is, I don't use emoticons in real life either.