"May I hope, Sir, for your interest with your fair son Spike, when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with him in the course of the morning?''

Before Spike had time for any thing but a blush of surprise, Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy instantly answered,

"Oh dear! -- Yes -- certainly. -- I am sure Spikey will be very happy -- I am sure he can have no objection. -- Come, Doyle, I want you up stairs.'' And gathering his work together, he was hastening away, when Spike called out,

"Dear Sir, do not go. -- I beg you will not go. -- Ms. Anya Nka must excuse me. -- She can have nothing to say to me that any body need not hear. I am going away myself.''

"No, no, nonsense, Spikey. -- I desire you will stay where you are.'' -- And upon Spike's seeming really, with vexed and embarrassed looks, about to escape, he added, "Now gosh darn it, I insist upon your staying and hearing Ms. Anya Nka.''

Spike would not oppose such an injunction -- and a moment's consideration making him also sensible that it would be wisest to get it over as soon and as quietly as possible, he sat down again, and tried to conceal by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between distress and diversion. Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy and Doyle walked off, and as soon as they were gone Ms. Anya Nka began.

"Believe me, my dear Mr. Spike, that your modesty, so far from doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections. You would have been less amiable in my eyes had there not been the little unwillingness; but allow me to assure you that I have your respected father's permission for the address. You can hardly doubt the purport of my discourse, however your natural delicacy may lead you to dissemble; my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as I entered the house I singled you out as the companion of my future life. But before I am run away with by my feelings on the subject, perhaps it will be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying -- and moreover for coming into Southern California with the design of selecting a husband, as I certainly did.''

The idea of Ms. Anya Nka, with all her solemn composure, being run away with by her feelings, made Spike so near laughing that he could not use the short pause she allowed in any attempt to stop her farther, and she continued:

"My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergywoman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in her parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; thirdly that you have the appearance of a veritable Viking of couchage; and fourthly -- which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier -- that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lord whom I have the honour of calling patron. Twice has he condescended to give me his opinion (unasked too!) on the subject; and it was but the very Saturday night before I left Purgatory -- between our pools at quadrille, while Mr. Jenkinson was arranging Mr. de Principal's foot-stool, that he said, "Ms. Anya Nka, you must marry. A clergywoman like you must marry. -- Chuse properly, chuse a gentleman for my sake; and for your own, let him be an active, useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good way. This is my advice. Find such a man as soon as you can, bring him to Purgatory, and I will visit him." Allow me, by the way, to observe, my fair cousin, that I do not reckon the notice and kindness of Lord Snyder de Principal as among the least of the advantages in my power to offer. You will find his manners beyond any thing I can describe; and your wit and vivacity I think must be acceptable to him, especially when tempered with the silence and respect which his rank will inevitably excite. Thus much for my general intention in favour of matrimony; it remains to be told why my views were directed to The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's instead of my own neighbourhood, where I assure you there are many amiable young men. But the fact is, that being, as I am, to inherit the estate after the death of your honoured mother (who, however, may live many years longer), I could not satisfy myself without resolving to chuse a husband from among her sons, that the loss to them might be as little as possible, when the melancholy event takes place -- which, however, as I have already said, may not be for several years. This has been my motive, my fair cousin, and I flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem. And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection. To fortune I am perfectly indifferent, and shall make no demand of that nature on your mother, since I am well aware that it could not be complied with; and that one thousand pounds in the 4 per cents, which will not be yours till after your father's decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to. On that head, therefore, I shall be uniformly silent; and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married.''

It was absolutely necessary to interrupt her now.

"You are too hasty, Madam,'' he cried. "You forget that I have made no answer. Let me do it without farther loss of time. Accept my thanks for the compliment you are paying me, I am very sensible of the honour of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them.''

"I am not new to learn,'' replied Ms. Anya Nka, with a formal wave of the hand, "that it is usual with young gentlemen to reject the addresses of the woman whom they secretly mean to accept, when she first applies for their favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long.''

"Upon my word, Madam,'' cried Spike, "your hope is rather an extraordinary one after my declaration. I do assure you that I am not one of those young gentlemen (if such young gentlemen there are) who are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second time. No means no. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. -- You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last man in the world who would make you so, -- Nay, were your friend Lord Snyder to know me, I am persuaded he would find me in every respect ill qualified for the situation.''

"Were it certain that Lord Snyder would think so,'' said Ms. Anya Nka very gravely -- "but I cannot imagine that his lordship would at all disapprove of you. And you may be certain that when I have the honour of seeing him again I shall speak in the highest terms of your modesty, economy, and other amiable qualifications.''

"Indeed, Ms. Anya Nka, all praise of me will be unnecessary. You must give me leave to judge for myself, and pay me the compliment of believing what I say. I wish you very happy and very rich, and by refusing your hand, do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise. In making me the offer, you must have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings with regard to my family, and may take possession of The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's estate whenever it falls, without any self-reproach. This matter may be considered, therefore, as finally settled.'' And rising as he thus spoke, he would have quitted the room, had not Ms. Anya Nka thus addressed him,

"When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on the subject I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a woman on the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the male character.''

"Really, Ms. Anya Nka,'' cried Spike with some warmth, "you puzzle me exceedingly. If what I have hitherto said can appear to you in the form of encouragement, I know not how to express my refusal in such a way as may convince you of its being one.''

"You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for believing it are briefly these: -- It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my connections with the family of De Principal, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in its favor; and you should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you. Your portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications. As I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall chuse to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of dashing males.''

"I do assure you, Ma'am, that I have no pretension whatever to that kind of dash which consists in tormenting a respectable woman. I would rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an dashing male intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from his heart.''

"You are uniformly charming!'' cried she, with an air of awkward gallantry; "and I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express authority of both your excellent parents, my proposals will not fail of being acceptable.''

This information, however, startled Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy; -- he would have been glad to be equally satisfied that his son had meant to encourage her by protesting against her proposals, but he dared not to believe it, and could not help saying so.

"But depend upon it, Ms. Anya Nka,'' he added, "that Spikey shall be brought to reason. I will speak to him about it myself directly. He is a very headstrong foolish boy, and does not know his own interest; but I will make him know it.''

"Pardon me for interrupting you, Sir,'' cried Ms. Anya Nka; "but if he is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether he would altogether be a very desirable husband to a woman in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If therefore he actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force him into accepting me, because if liable to such defects of temper, he could not contribute much to my felicity.''

"Ma'am, you quite misunderstand me,'' said Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy, alarmed. "Spikey is only headstrong in such matters as these. In every thing else he is as good natured a boy as ever lived. I will go directly to Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy, and we shall very soon settle it with him, I am sure.''

He would not give her time to reply, but hurrying instantly to his wife, called out as he entered the library,

"Oh! Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Spikey marry Ms. Anya Nka, for he vows he will not have her, and if you do not make haste she will change her mind and not have him.''

Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy raised her eyes from her book as he entered, and fixed them on his face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by his communication.

"I have not the pleasure of understanding you,'' said she, when he had finished his speech. "Of what are you talking?''

"Of Ms. Anya Nka and Spikey. Spikey declares he will not have Ms. Anya Nka, and Ms. Anya Nka begins to say that she will not have Spikey.''

"And what am I to do on the occasion? -- It seems an hopeless business.''

"Speak to Spikey about it yourself. Tell him that you insist upon his marrying her.''

"Let him be called down. He shall hear my opinion.''

Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy rang the bell, and Mr. Spike was summoned to the library.

"Come here, child,'' cried his mother as he appeared. "Have some cocoa. I have sent for you on an affair of importance. I understand that Ms. Anya Nka has made you an offer of marriage. Is it true?'' Spike replied that it was. "Very well -- and the offer of marriage you have refused?''

"I have, Ma'am ''

"Very well. We now come to the point. Your father insists upon your accepting it. Is not it so, Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy?''

"Yes, or I will never see him again.''

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Spike. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. -- Your father will never see you again if you do not marry Ms. Anya Nka, and I will never see you again if you do.''

Spike could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning; but Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy, who had persuaded himself that his wife regarded the affair as he wished, was excessively disappointed.

"What do you mean, Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy, by talking in the way? You promised me to insist upon his marrying her.''

"My dear,'' replied his wife, "I have two small favours to request. First, that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the present occasion; and secondly, of my room. I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as may be.''

Not yet, however, in spite of his disappointment in his wife, did Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy give up the point. He talked to Spike again and again; coaxed and threatened him by turns. He endeavoured to secure Oz in his interest but Oz with all possible mildness declined interfering; -- and Spike, sometimes with real earnestness and sometimes with playful gaiety, replied to his attacks. Though his manner varied, however, his determination never did.

Ms. Anya Nka, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had passed. She thought too well of herself to comprehend on what motive her cousin could refuse her; and though her pride was hurt, she suffered in no other way. Her regard for him was quite imaginary; and the possibility of him deserving his father's reproach prevented her feeling any regret.

While the family were in the confusion, Adam Walsh came to spend the day with them. He was met in the vestibule by Angelus, who, flying to him, cried in a half whisper, "I am glad you are come, for there is such fun here! -- What do you think has happened the morning? -- Ms. Anya Nka has made an offer to Spikey, and he will not have her.''

Adam had hardly time to answer, before they were joined by Doyle, who came to tell the same news, and no sooner had they entered the breakfast-room, where Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy was alone, than he likewise began on the subject, calling on Mr. Walsh for his compassion, and entreating his to persuade his friend Spikey to comply with the wishes of all his family. "Pray do, my dear Mr. Walsh,'' he added in a melancholy tone, "for nobody is on my side, nobody takes part with me, I am cruelly used, nobody feels for my poor nerves.''

Adam's reply was spared by the entrance of Oz and Spike.

"Aye, there he comes,'' continued Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy, "looking as unconcerned as may be, and caring no more for us than if we were at York, provided he can have his own way. -- But I tell you what, Mr. Spikey, if you take it into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in the way, you will never get a wife at all -- and I am sure I do not know who is to maintain you when your mother is dead. -- I shall not be able to keep you -- and so I warn you. -- I have done with you from the very day. -- I told you in the library, you know, that I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful children, -- Not that I have much pleasure indeed in talking to any body. People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can have no great inclination for talking. Nobody can tell what I suffer! -- But it is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied.''

His sons listened in silence to the effusion, sensible that any attempt to reason with or sooth him would only increase the irritation. He talked on, therefore, without interruption from any of them till they were joined by Ms. Anya Nka, who entered with an air more stately than usual, and on perceiving whom, he said to the boys, 

"Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold your tongues, and let Ms. Anya Nka and me have a little conversation together.''

Spike passed quietly out of the room, Oz and Doyle followed, but Angelus stood his ground, determined to hear all he could; and Adam, detained first by the civility of Ms. Anya Nka, whose inquiries after himself and all his family were very minute, and then by a little curiosity, satisfied himself with walking to the window and pretending not to hear. In a doleful voice Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy thus began the projected conversation. -- "Oh! Ms. Anya Nka!'' --

The morrow produced no abatement of Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy's ill humour or ill health. Ms. Anya Nka was also in the same state of angry pride. Spike had hoped that her resentment might shorten her visit, but her plan did not appear in the least affected by it. She was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday she still meant to stay.

After breakfast, the boys walked to Sunnydale, to inquire if Ms. Faith were returned, and to lament over her absence from the burnt husk of Sunnydale High sparring match. She joined them on their entering the town and attended them to their uncle's, where her regret and vexation, and the concern of every body was well talked over. -- To Spike, however, she voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of her absence had been self imposed.

"I found,'' said she, "as the time drew near, that I had better not meet Miss Buffy Summers; -- that to be in the same room, the same party with her for so many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself.''

He highly approved her forbearance, and they had leisure for a full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly bestowed on each other, as Faith and another officer walked back with them to The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's, and during the walk she particularly attended to him. Her accompanying them was a double advantage; he felt all the compliment it offered to himself, and it was most acceptable as an occasion of introducing her to his mother and father.

Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Mr. le Bloddy; it came from the burnt husk of Sunnydale High, and was opened immediately. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed paper, well covered with a gentleman's fair, flowing hand; and Spike saw his brother's countenance change as he read it, and saw his dwelling intently on some particular passages. Oz recollected himself soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with his usual cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Spike felt an anxiety on the subject which drew off his attention even from Faith; and no sooner had she and her companion taken leave, than a glance from Oz invited him to follow him up stairs. When they had gained their own room, Oz taking out the letter, said,

"This is from Riley Rosenburg; what it contains, has surprised me a good deal. The whole party have left the burnt husk of Sunnydale High by this time, and are on their way to town; and without any intention of coming back again. You shall hear what he says.''

He then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information of their having just resolved to follow their sister to town directly, and of their meaning to dine that day in Grosvenor street, where Mrs. Kate Lockley had a house. The next was in these words. "I do not pretend to regret any thing I shall leave in Southern California, except your society, my dearest friend; but we will hope at some future period, to enjoy many returns of the delightful intercourse we have known, and in the mean while may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that.'' To these high flown expressions, Spike listened with all the insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their removal surprised him, he saw nothing in it really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their absence from the burnt husk of Sunnydale High would prevent Willow's being there; and as to the loss of their society, he was persuaded that Oz must soon cease to regard it, in the enjoyment of his.

"It is unlucky,'' said he, after a short pause, "that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not hope that the period of future happiness to which Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg looks forward, may arrive earlier than he is aware, and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends, will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters? -- Willow will not be detained in Los Angeles by them.''

"Riley decidedly says that none of the party will return into Southern California the winter. I will read it to you --''

"When my sister left us yesterday, she imagined that the business which took her to Los Angeles, might be concluded in three or four days, but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Willow gets to town she will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following her thither, that she may not be obliged to spend her vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintance are already there for the winter; I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the crowd, but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Southern California may abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you.''

"It is evident by this,'' added Oz, "that she comes back no more the winter.''

"It is only evident that Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg does not mean Willow should.''

"It must be Willow's own doing. Here's the passage which hurts me.'' "Miss Buffy Summers is impatient to see her brother, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet him again. I really do not think Xander Summers has his equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection he inspires in Wesley and myself is heightened into something still more interesting, from the hope we dare to entertain of his being hereafter our brother. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on the subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My sister admires him greatly already, she will have frequent opportunity now of seeing him on the most intimate footing, his relations all wish the connection as much as her own, and a brother's partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Willow most capable of engaging any man's heart. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Oz, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?''

"What think you, my dear Spikey?'' -- said Oz as he finished it. "Clear enough? -- Riley neither expects nor wishes me to be his brother. That he is convinced of his sister's indifference, and that if he suspects the nature of my feelings for her, he means (most kindly!) to put me on my guard? Can there be any other opinion?''

"Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. -- Will you hear it?''

"Willingly.''

"You shall have it in few words. Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg sees that his sister is in love with you, and wants her to marry Mr. Summers. He follows her to town in the hope of keeping her there, and tries to persuade you that she does not care about you.''

Oz shook his head.

"Indeed, Oz, you ought to believe me. -- No one who has ever seen you together, can doubt her affection. Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg I am sure cannot. He is not such a simpleton. Could he have seen half as much love in Miss Buffy Summers for himself, he would have ordered his wedding clothes. But the case is this. We are not rich enough, or grand enough for them; and he is the more anxious to get Mr. Summers for his sister, from the notion that when there has been one intermarriage, he may have less trouble in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity, and I dare say it would succeed, if Mr. de Principal were out of the way. But, my dearest Oz, you cannot seriously imagine that because Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg tells you his sister greatly admires Mr. Summers, she is in the smallest degree less sensible of your merit than when she took leave of you on Tuesday, or that it will be in his power to persuade her that instead of being in love with you, she is very much in love with his friend.''

"If we thought alike of Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg,'' replied Oz, "your representation of all this, might make me quite easy. But I know the foundation is unjust. Riley is honest. I just hope he's wrong.''

"That is right. -- You could not have started a more happy idea, since you will not take comfort in mine. Believe him to be deceived by all means. You have now done your duty by him, and must fret no longer.''

"But, my dear brother, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in accepting a woman whose brothers and friends are all wishing her to marry elsewhere?''

"You must decide for yourself,'' said Spike, "and if, upon mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging her two brothers is more than equivalent to the happiness of being her husband, I advise you by all means to refuse her.''

"How can you talk so?'' -- said Oz faintly smiling, -- "You must know that though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could not hesitate. As Willow goes, so goes my nation.''

"I did not think you would; -- and that being the case, I cannot consider your situation with much compassion.''

"But if she returns no more the winter, my choice will never be required. A thousand things may arise in six months!''

The idea of her returning no more Spike treated with the utmost contempt. It appeared to him merely the suggestion of Riley's interested wishes, and he could not for a moment suppose that those wishes, however openly or artfully spoken, could influence a young woman so totally independent of every one.

He represented to his brother as forcibly as possible what he felt on the subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy effect. Oz's temper was not desponding, and he was gradually led to hope, though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that Rosenburg would return to the burnt husk of Sunnydale High and answer every wish of his heart.

They agreed that Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy should only hear of the departure of the family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentlewoman's conduct; but even the partial communication gave him a great deal of concern, and he bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the gentlemen should happen to go away, just as they were all getting so intimate together. After lamenting it however at some length, he had the consolation of thinking that Willow would be soon down again and soon dining at The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's, and the conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration that, though she had been invited only to a family dinner, he would take care to have two full courses. 
 

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