I was worried that Goff should linger so on my first night, for I saw plainly that he hoped we would retire and that he wanted to get Eloise off for a _tête-à-tête_. Aunt Lucretia saw this also, and whispered to me when she got the chance, "Freeze him out, Jack; he shan’t have her to-night!" "Why, Major Hawthorn," she said presently, turning and rising abruptly. The major came in on us silently, in his soft, well-bred way. I rose instantly to greet him. "Jack, my boy!" said he, throwing one arm around me, and drawing me to him. "How you have grown! I heard you had come home, and I had to see you to-night." "And you didn’t want to see _me_?" said Eloise, coming up, and kissing him; for the Major was her ideal, and she was always his pet. "Now, Major, you always said that you loved me as much as you did Jack," she teased, winding an arm into his. "Just the same as ever, my dear; you are both my two children always," he laughed. "Why, good evening, Goff—and the General, where is he?" he asked my Aunt Lucretia. "I have news that will please him." My Aunt went after my grandfather. "Jack," he turned to me, "what a man you have grown into! I’m hungry for a long talk with you." The Major sat down, and Colonel Goff offered him a cigar. He struck a match, but before using it, held it a moment to my face. "Inspection, Jack," said he, smiling; "you know how hard it is to break an old soldier of his habits." I saw his finely-cut, sensitive face light up. I noticed the familiar turn of his mustache, his kindly mouth, the correct dress, the straight, martial bearing, and the courtesy, that seemed a gift of his own. "And it looks as if I might die in harness," he went on. "Ah, here’s the General." He rose and shook hands with my grandsire. "I have come over to tell you, General, of a telegram I received this afternoon from the President, and I should so like to have your advice before answering—the advice of all of you," he said kindly, turning and bowing our way. "Ah, Hawthorne," said my grandsire, "I know what it is—I knew it was coming—I wrote Joe Wheeler—" "I thought you had something to do with it," said the Major, "and I shall abide by your decision, my General," he added softly. "McKinley has appointed you Brigadier-General," went on my grandsire quietly. "The First Tennessee will be in your brigade. I can’t talk of it, Hawthorne—I want to go to the Philippines with you so bad, and give the damned Yankees—ah, pardon—pardon me—I mean the damned Spaniards another good drubbing!" There was a burst of laughter from us all. My grandsire sat down confused. "It is as you said," Major Hawthorne replied, "and I am going to do as you say, General. I have taken your orders in Virginia too often to refuse now." "Hawthorne, I envy you; by gad, I envy you," said the old man.