Of course you will! You do not know what a delightful person he is, when once you can break the ice." Elsley, like most vain men, was of a jealous temper; and Valencia's eagerness to see Major Campbell jarred on him.

He wanted to keep the exquisite creature to himself, and Headley was quite enough of an intruder already.

Beside, the accounts of the new comer, his learning, his military prowess, the reverence with which all, even Scoutbush, evidently regarded him, made him prepared to dislike the Major; and all the more, now he heard that there was an ice-crust to crack.

Impulsive men like Elsley, especially when their self-respect and certainty of their own position is not very strong, have instinctively a defiant fear of the strong, calm, self-contained man, especially if he has seen the world; and Elsley set down Major Campbell as a proud, sarcastic fellow, before whom he must be at the pains of being continually on his guard.
He wished him a hundred miles away.

However, there was no refusing Valencia anything; so he got his hat, but with so bad a grace, that Valencia saw his chagrin, and from mere naughtiness of heart amused herself with it by talking all the way of nothing but Major Campbell.
"And Lucia," she said at last, "will be so glad to see him again.