We knew him so well, you know, in Eaton Square years ago." "Really," said Elsley, wincing, "I never met him there." He recollected that Lucia had expressed more pleasure at Major Campbell's coming than even, at that of her brother; and a dark, undefined phantom entered his heart, which, though he would have been too proud to confess it to himself, was none other than jealousy.
"Oh--did you not?
No; it was the year before we first knew you.

And we used to laugh at him together, behind his back, and christened him the wild Indian, because he was so gauche and shy.

He was a major in the Indian army then: but a few months afterwards he sold out, went into the line--no one could tell why, for he threw away very brilliant prospects, they say, and might have been a general by now, instead of a mere major still.

But he is so improved since then; he is like an elder brother to Scoutbush; guides him in everything.

I call him the blind man, and the major his dog!" "So much the worse," thought Elsley, who disliked the notion of Campbell's having power over a man to whom he was indebted for his house-room: but by this time they were at Mrs.Harvey's door.
Mrs.Harvey opened it, curtseying to the very ground: and Valencia ran upstairs, and knocked at the sitting-room door herself.
"Come in," shouted a pre-occupied voice inside.
"Is that a proper way in which to address a lady, sir ?" answered she, putting in her beautiful head.
Major Campbell was sitting, Elsley could see, in his shirt sleeves, cigar in mouth, bent over his microscope: but instead of the unexpected prim voice, he heard a very gay and arch one answer, "Is that a proper way in which to come peeping into an old bachelor's sanctuary, ma'am?
Go away this moment, till I make myself fit to be seen." Valencia shut the door again, laughing.
"You seem very intimate with Major Campbell," said Elsley.
"Intimate?
I look on him as my father almost.