"A very roundabout way," she said.

"It would have been seven miles nearer if you had come by the cross-road.

But I suppose you thought you must go there first." "That is what I thought," I answered.
"Have you been thinking about her all the time you have been away ?" "Nearly all the time." "And actually cut off a big slice of your vacation in order to see her ?" I replied that this was precisely the state of the case.
"But, after all, you weren't successful.

You need not tell me anything about that--I knew it as soon as I saw you this morning.

But I will ask you to answer one thing: Is the decision final ?" I sighed--I could not help it, but she did not even smile.