CHAPTER XXII (22)
THE le Bloddys were engaged to dine with the
Walshes, and again during the chief of the day, was Mr. Walsh so kind as
to listen to Ms. Anya Nka. Spike took an opportunity of thanking him. "It
keeps her in good humour,'' said he, "and I am more obliged to you than
I can express.'' Adam assured his friend of his satisfaction in being useful,
and that it amply repaid him for the little sacrifice of his time. This
was very amiable, but Adam's kindness extended farther than Spike had any
conception of; -- its object was nothing less than to secure him from any
return of Ms. Anya Nka's addresses, by engaging them towards himself. Such
was Mr. Walshes scheme; and appearances were so favourable that when they
parted at night, he would have felt almost sure of success if she had not
been to leave Southern California so very soon. But here, he did injustice
to the fire and independence of her character, for it led him to escape
out of The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's House the next morning
with admirable slyness, and hasten to Walsh Lodge to throw herself at his
feet. She was anxious to avoid the notice of her cousins, from a conviction
that if they saw her depart, they could not fail to conjecture her design,
and she was not willing to have the attempt known till its success could
be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for
Adam had been tolerably encouraging, she was comparatively diffident since
the adventure of Wednesday. Her reception however was of the most flattering
kind. Mr. Walsh perceived her from an upper window as she walked towards
the house, and instantly set out to meet her accidentally in the lane.
But little had he dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited
him there.
In as short a time as Ms. Anya Nka's long
speeches would allow, every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction
of both; and as they entered the house, she earnestly entreated him to
name the day that was to make her the happiest of women; and though such
a solicitation must be waved for the present, the lord felt no inclination
to trifle with her happiness. The stupidity with which she was favoured
by nature must guard her courtship from any charm that could make a man
wish for its continuance; and Mr. Walsh, who accepted her solely from the
pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that
establishment were gained.
Dame Walsh and Dr. Angleman Walsh were speedily applied to for their consent;
and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Ms. Anya Nka's present
circumstances made it a most eligible match for their son, to whom they
could give little fortune; and her prospects of future wealth were exceedingly
fair. Dr. Angleman Walsh began directly to calculate with more interest
than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer Mrs. Joyce
le Bloddy was likely to live; and Dame Walsh gave it as her decided opinion
that whenever Ms. Anya Nka should be in possession of the Ubiquitous Warehouse
of the Le Bloddy's estate, it would be highly expedient that both she and
her husband should make their appearance at the capital's. The whole family,
in short, were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger boys formed
hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have
done; and the girls were relieved from their apprehension of Adam's dying
an old maid. Adam himself was tolerably composed. He had gained his point,
and had time to consider of it. His reflections were in general satisfactory.
Ms. Anya Nka to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; her society
was irksome, and her attachment to him must be imaginary. But still, she
would be his wife. -- Without thinking highly either of women or of matrimony,
marriage had always been his object; that or world domination, perhaps
involving toasters, it was the only honourable provision for well-educated
young men of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness,
must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative he
had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been
handsome, he felt all the good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance
in the business was the surprise it must occasion to Spike le Bloddy, whose
friendship he valued beyond that of any other person. Spike would wonder,
and probably would blame him; and though his resolution was not to be shaken,
his feelings must be hurt by such disapprobation. He resolved to give him
the information himself, and therefore charged Ms. Anya Nka, when she returned
to The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's to dinner, to drop no hint
of what had passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of
course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty;
for the curiosity excited by her long absence burst forth in such very
direct questions on her return, as required some ingenuity to evade, and
she was at the same time exercising great self-denial, for she was longing
to publish her prosperous love.
As she was to begin her journey too early
on the morrow to see any of the family, the ceremony of leave-taking was
performed when the gentlemen moved for the night; and Mayor Wilkins-le
Bloddy, with great politeness and cordiality, said how happy they should
be to see her at The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's again, whenever
her other engagements might allow her to visit them.
"My dear Sir,'' she replied, "the invitation
is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive;
and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as
possible.''
They were all astonished; and Mrs. Joyce
le Bloddy, who could by no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately
said,
"But is there not danger of Lord Snyder's
disapprobation here, my good sir? -- You had better neglect your relations,
than run the risk of offending your patron.''
"My dear Madam,'' replied Ms. Anya Nka,
"I am particularly obliged to you for the friendly caution, and you may
depend upon my not taking so material a step without his lordship's concurrence.''
"You cannot be too much on your guard.
Risk any thing rather than his displeasure; and if you find it likely to
be raised by your coming to us again, which I should think exceedingly
probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied that we shall take no
offence.''
"Believe me, my dear Ma'am, my gratitude
is warmly excited by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you
will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, as well as for
every other mark of your regard during my stay in Southern California.
As for my fair cousins, though my absence may not be long enough to render
it necessary, I shall now take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness,
not excepting my cousin Spike.''
With proper civilities the gentlemen then
withdrew; all of them equally surprised to find that she meditated a quick
return. Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy wished to understand by it that she thought
of paying her addresses to one of his younger boys, and Anointed One might
have been prevailed on to accept her. He rated her abilities much higher
than any of the others; there was a solidity in her reflections which often
struck him, and though by no means so clever as himself, he thought that
if encouraged to read and improve herself by such an example as his, she
might become a very agreeable companion. But on the following morning,
every hope of the kind was done away. Mr. Walsh called soon after breakfast,
and in a private conference with Spike related the event of the day before.
The possibility of Ms. Anya Nka's fancying
herself in love with his friend had once occurred to Spike within the last
day or two; but that Adam could encourage her, seemed almost as far from
possibility as that he could encourage her himself, and his astonishment
was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum,
and he could not help crying out,
"Engaged to Ms. Anya Nka! my dear Adam,
-- impossible!''
The steady countenance which Mr. Walsh
had commanded in telling his story, gave way to a momentary confusion here
on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than he expected,
he soon regained his composure, and calmly replied,
"Why should you be surprised, my dear Spike?
-- Do you think it incredible that Ms. Anya Nka should be able to procure
any man's good opinion, because she was not so happy as to succeed with
you?''
But Spike had now recollected himself,
and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure him with tolerable
firmness that the prospect of their relationship was highly grateful to
him, and that he wished him all imaginable happiness.
"I see what you are feeling,'' replied
Adam, -- "you must be surprised, very much surprised, -- so lately as Ms.
Anya Nka was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think
it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not
romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering
Ms. Anya Nka's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced
that my chance of happiness with her is as fair as most people can boast
on entering the marriage state.''
Spike quietly answered "Undoubtedly;''
-- and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family.
Adam did not stay much longer, and Spike was then left to reflect on what
he had heard. It was a long time before he became at all reconciled to
the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Ms. Anya Nka's making
two offers of marriage within three days, was nothing in comparison of
her being now accepted. He had always felt that Adam's opinion of matrimony
was not exactly like his own, but he could not have supposed it possible
that, when called into action, he would have sacrificed every better feeling
to worldly advantage. Adam the husband of Ms. Anya Nka, was a most humiliating
picture! -- And to the pang of a friend disgracing himself and sunk in
his esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible
for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot he had chosen.
CHAPTER XXIII (23)
 SPIKE
was sitting with his father and brothers, reflecting on what he had heard,
and doubting whether he were authorised to mention it, when Dame Walsh
herself appeared, sent by her son to announce his engagement to the family.
With many compliments to them, and much self-gratulation on the prospect
of a connection between the houses, she unfolded the matter, -- to an audience
not merely wondering, but incredulous; for Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy, with
more perseverance than politeness, protested she must be entirely mistaken,
and Angelus, always unguarded and often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed,
"Good Lord! Dame Walsh, how can you tell
such a story? -- Do not you know that Ms. Anya Nka wants to marry Spikey?''
Nothing less than the complaisance of a
courtier could have borne without anger such treatment; but Dame Walshes
good breeding carried her through it all; and though she begged leave to
be positive as to the truth of her information, she listened to all their
impertinence with the most forbearing courtesy.
Spike, feeling it incumbent on him to relieve
her from so unpleasant a situation, now put himself forward to confirm
her account, by mentioning his prior knowledge of it from Adam himself;
and endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of his father and brothers,
by the earnestness of his congratulations to Dame Walsh, in which he was
readily joined by Oz, and by making a variety of remarks on the happiness
that might be expected from the match, the excellent character of Ms. Anya
Nka, and the convenient distance of Purgatory from Los Angeles.
Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy was in fact too
much overpowered to say a great deal while Dame Walsh remained; but no
sooner had she left them than his feelings found a rapid vent. In the first
place, he persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter; secondly,
he was very sure that Ms. Anya Nka had been taken in; thirdly, he trusted
that they would never be happy together; and fourthly, that the match might
be broken off. Two inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the whole;
one, that Spike was the real cause of all the mischief; and the other,
that he himself had been barbarously used by them all; and on these two
points he principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could console
and nothing appease him. -- Nor did that day wear out his resentment. A
week elapsed before he could see Spike without scolding him, a month passed
away before he could speak to Dame Walsh or Dr. Angleman Walsh without
being rude, and many months were gone before he could at all forgive their
son.
Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy's emotions were much
more tranquil on the occasion, and such as she did experience she pronounced
to be of a most agreeable sort; for it gratified her, she said, to discover
that Adam Walsh, whom she had been used to think tolerably sensible, was
as foolish as her husband, and more foolish than her own children!
Oz confessed himself a little surprised
at the match; but he said less of his astonishment than of his earnest
desire for their happiness; nor could Spike persuade him to consider it
as improbable. Doyle and Angelus were far from envying Mr. Walsh, for Ms.
Anya Nka was only a clergywoman; and it affected them in no other way than
as a piece of news to spread at Sunnydale.
Dr. Angleman Walsh could not be insensible
of triumph on being able to retort on Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy the comfort
of having a son well married; and he called at The Ubiquitous Warehouse
of the Le Bloddy's rather oftener than usual to say how happy he was, though
Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have
been enough to drive happiness away.
Between Spike and Adam there was a restraint
which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Spike felt persuaded
that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again. His disappointment
in Adam made him turn with fonder regard to his brother, of whose rectitude
and delicacy he was sure his opinion could never be shaken, and for whose
happiness he grew daily more anxious, as Rosenburg had now been gone a
week, and nothing was heard of her return.
Oz had sent Riley an early answer to his
letter, and was counting the days till he might reasonably hope to hear
again. The promised letter of thanks from Ms. Anya Nka arrived on Tuesday,
addressed to their mother, and written with all the solemnity of gratitude
which a twelvemonth's abode in the family might have prompted. After discharging
her conscience on that head, she proceeded to inform them, with many rapturous
expressions, of her happiness in having obtained the affection of their
amiable neighbour, Mr. Walsh, and then explained that it was merely with
the view of enjoying his society that she had been so ready to close with
their kind wish of seeing her again at The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the
Le Bloddy's, whither she hoped to be able to return on Monday fortnight;
for Lord Snyder, she added, so heartily approved her marriage, that he
wished it to take place as soon as possible, which she trusted would be
an unanswerable argument with her amiable Adam to name an early day for
making her the happiest of women.
Ms. Anya Nka's return into Southern California
was no longer a matter of pleasure to Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy. On the contrary,
he was as much disposed to complain of it as his wife. -- It was very strange
that she should come to The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's instead
of to Walsh Lodge; it was also very inconvenient and exceedingly troublesome.
-- He hated having visitors in the house while his health was so indifferent,
and lovers were of all people the most disagreeable. Such were the gentle
murmurs of Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy, and they gave way only to the greater
distress of Willow's continued absence.
Neither Oz nor Spike were comfortable on
the subject. Day after day passed away without bringing any other tidings
of her than the report which shortly prevailed in Sunnydale of her coming
no more to the burnt husk of Sunnydale High the whole winter; a report
which highly incensed Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy, and which he never failed
to contradict as a most scandalous falsehood.
Even Spike began to fear -- not that Rosenburg
was indifferent -- but that her brothers would be successful in keeping
her away. Unwilling as he was to admit an idea so destructive of Oz's happiness,
and so dishonourable to the stability of his lover, he could not prevent
its frequently recurring. The united efforts of her two unfeeling brothers
and of her overpowering friend, assisted by the attractions of Mr. Summers
and the amusements of Los Angeles, might be too much, he feared, for the
strength of her attachment.
As for Oz, him anxiety under the suspence
was, of course, more painful than Spike's; but whatever he felt he was
desirous of concealing, and between himself and Spike, therefore, the subject
was never alluded to. But as no such delicacy restrained his father, an
hour seldom passed in which he did not talk of Rosenburg, express his impatience
for her arrival, or even require Oz to confess that if she did not come
back, he should think himself very ill used. It needed all Oz's steady
mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable tranquillity.
Ms. Anya Nka returned most punctually on
the Monday fortnight, but her reception at The Ubiquitous Warehouse of
the Le Bloddy's was not quite so gracious as it had been on her first introduction.
She was too happy, however, to need much attention; and luckily for the
others, the business of love-making relieved them from a great deal of
her company. The chief of every day was spent by her at Walsh Lodge, and
she sometimes returned to The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's only
in time to make an apology for her absence before the family went to bed.
Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy was really in a
most pitiable state. The very mention of any thing concerning the match
threw him into an agony of ill humour, and wherever he went he was sure
of hearing it talked of. The sight of Mr. Walsh was odious to him. As his
successor in that house, he regarded him with jealous abhorrence. Whenever
Adam came to see them he concluded him to be anticipating the hour of possession;
and whenever he spoke in a low voice to Ms. Anya Nka, was convinced that
they were talking of the Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's estate,
and resolving to turn himself and his sons out of the house as soon as
Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy were dead. He complained bitterly of all the to his
wife.
"Indeed, Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy,'' said he,
"it is very hard to think that Adam Walsh should ever be master of the
house, that I should be forced to make way for him, and live to see him
take my place in it!''
"My dear, do not give way to such gloomy
thoughts. Let us hope for better things. Let us flatter ourselves that
I may be the survivor.''
This was not very consoling to Mayor Wilkins-le
Bloddy, and, therefore, instead of making any answer, he went on as before,
"I cannot bear to think that they should
have all the estate, If it was not for the entail I should not mind it.''
"What should not you mind?''
"I should not mind any thing at all.''
"Let us be thankful that you are preserved
from a state of such insensibility.''
"I never can be thankful, Mrs. Joyce le
Bloddy, for any thing about the entail. How any one could have the conscience
to entail away an estate from one's own sons I cannot understand; and all
for the sake of Ms. Anya Nka too! -- Why should she have it more than anybody
else?''
"I leave it to yourself to determine,''
said Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy.
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