"Lord, ha' mercy! This is a day of news," muttered Mrs. Dobbs under her breath. Then she said aloud, "I hope it's good news?" "I have found some work to do. Is that good?" Mrs. Dobbs clapped her hands softly. "Very good," she said. Half an hour ago her approbation would have been more heartily expressed; but she was looking at him now with different eyes, and considering his prospects with a new and serious interest. "You haven't asked me what the work is," said Owen, just a little disappointed by her quietude. "I suppose it is _not_ stone-breaking? But if it is, I stick to my colours. Better that than nothing." "You will say, Mrs. Dobbs, that I am luckier than I deserve to be. I am engaged as secretary to a man who is about to travel in Spain. I happen to know Spanish. Luck again; for I learnt it merely to amuse myself." "Yes; I do think that isn't bad for a beginning, and I hope it will lead to something more. Who is the gentleman, if I may ask?" Before Owen could answer, May, who had perched herself on the elbow of Jo Weatherhead's vacant chair, said, "I think I can guess. It's Mr. Bragg." "Mr. Bragg!" echoed her grandmother, as if doubtful of having heard aright. "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. "Cheering up!" cried May. "Oh! but I remember that Mrs. Hadlow said you always liked to be pitied for having your own way. You must require a great deal of consolation, truly, for the prospect of travelling in that delightful country!" Owen nodded, and carefully fitted one pleat of his hat-brim into another, as he answered, "I dare say my appetite for consolation is bigger than you imagine."