"I remember hearing him talk of a journey into Spain, and of wanting to find a gentleman to go with him. Am I not right?"
"Quite right," answered Owen.
"Mr. Bragg! Well, that is strange!" whispered Mrs. Dobbs to herself.
Owen had taken a chair, and sat bending forward, with his elbows on his knees, pleating and puckering in his fingers the brim of his soft felt hat. He had not hitherto so much as looked towards May; now he straightened himself in his chair, and, fixing his eyes on her earnestly, asked—
"And what do you say to my news, Miss Cheffington?"
"I say, as granny says, that I am very glad," she answered, smiling, but speaking in a subdued tone.
"It's more to the purpose to ask what Canon and Mrs. Hadlow say to it," put in Mrs. Dobbs. "I hope they are pleased?"
"I dare say—I have no doubt—I—I have not seen Aunt Jane yet. The fact is, I am on my way to College Quad; but I thought I would look in here as I passed, and tell you that I have followed your advice, Mrs. Dobbs."
The direct road from Owen's lodgings to College Quad was a short, and nearly straight, line. To visit Jessamine Cottage "on the way" from one to the other was analogous to going round by Edinburgh on a journey from London to Leeds.
"I wanted a little patting on the back and cheering up, you see," continued Owen.