From the drawing room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Ms. Anya Nka for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often especially Mr. De Bourgh drove by in his phaeton, which she never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. He not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' conversation with Adam, but was scarcely ever prevailed on to get out.

Very few days passed in which Ms. Anya Nka did not walk to Hellmouth, and not many in which her husband did not think it necessary to go likewise; and till Spike recollected that there might be other family livings to be disposed of, he could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now and then, they were honoured with a call from his lordship, and nothing escaped his observation that was passing in the room during these visits. He examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture, or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if he accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mr. Adam Nka's joints of meat were too large for his family.

Spike soon perceived that though the great lord was not in the commission of the peace for the county, he was a most active magistrate in his own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to him by Ms. Anya Nka; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, he sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty.

The entertainment of dining at Hellmouth was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Dame Walsh, and there being only one table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few; as the style of living of the neighbourhood in general was beyond the Anya Nka's' reach. This, however, was no evil to Spike, and upon the whole he spent his time comfortably enough; there were half hours of pleasant conversation with Adam, and the weather was so fine for the time of year, that he had often great enjoyment out of doors. His favourite walk, and where he frequently went while the others were calling on Lord Snyder, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but himself, and where he felt beyond the reach of Lord Snyder's curiosity.

In the quiet way, the first fortnight of his visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Hellmouth, which in so small a circle must be important. Spike had heard, soon after his arrival, that Miss Buffy Summers was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of his acquaintance whom he did not prefer, her coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Hellmouth parties, and he might be amused in seeing how hopeless Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg's designs on her were, by her behaviour to her cousin, for whom she was evidently destined by Lord Snyder; who talked of her coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of her in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that she had already been frequently seen by Mr. Walsh and himself.

Her arrival was soon known at the Parsonage, for Ms. Anya Nka was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Purgatory Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it; and after making her bow as the carriage turned into the park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning she hastened to Hellmouth to pay her respects. There were two nephews of Lord Snyder to require them, for Miss Buffy Summers had brought with her a Col Amy the rat, the younger daughter of her uncle, Lord ----; and to the great surprise of all the party, when Ms. Anya Nka returned, the ladies accompanied her. Adam had seen them, from his wife's room, crossing the road, and immediately running into the other, told the boys what an honour they might expect, adding,

"I may thank you, Spike, for the piece of civility. Miss Buffy Summers would never have come so soon to wait upon me.''

Spike had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three ladies entered the room. Col Amy the rat, who led the way, was about thirty, not terribly large as rats go, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentlewoman. Miss Buffy Summers looked just as she had been used to look in Southern California, paid her compliments, with her usual reserve, to Mr. Anya Nka; and whatever might be her feelings towards his friend, met his with every appearance of composure. Spike merely bowed to her, without saying a word.

Col Amy the rat entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred woman, and talked very pleasantly; but her cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mr. Anya Nka, sat for some time without speaking to any body. At length, however, her civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Spike after the health of his family. He answered her in the usual way, and after a moment's pause, added,

"My eldest brother has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see him there?''

The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Lord Snyder's drawing room. His lordship received them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable as when he could get nobody else; and he was, in fact, almost engrossed by his nieces, speaking to them, especially to Summers, much more than to any other person in the room.

Col Amy the rat seemed really glad to see them; any thing was a welcome relief to her at Hellmouth; and Mr. Adam Nka's handsome friend had moreover caught her fancy very much. She now seated herself by him, and talked so agreeably of Sacramento and Southern California, of travelling and staying at home, of new books and music, that Spike had never been half so well entertained in that room before; and they conversed with so much spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Lord Snyder himself as well as of Miss Buffy Summers.  Her eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity; and that his lordship after a while shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for he did not scruple to call out,

"What is that you are saying, Amy? What is it you are talking of? What are you telling Mr. le Bloddy? Let me hear what it is.''

"We are speaking of music, Sir,'' said she, when no longer able to avoid a reply.

"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation, if you are speaking of music. There are few people in California, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Jonathan, if his health had allowed him to apply. I am confident that he would have performed delightfully. How does Xander get on, Summers?''

Miss Buffy Summers spoke with affectionate praise of her brother's proficiency.

"I am very glad to hear such a good account of him,'' said Lord Snyder; "and pray tell him from me, that he cannot expect to excel, if he does not practise a great deal.''

"I assure you, Sir,'' she replied, "that he does not need such advice. He practises very constantly.''

"So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write to him, I shall charge him not to neglect it on any account. I often tell young gentlemen, that no excellence in music is to be acquired, without constant practice. I have told Mr. le Bloddy several times, that he will never play really well, unless he practises more; and though Mr. Anya Nka has no instrument, he is very welcome, as I have often told him, to come to Hellmouth every day, and play on the piano forte in Mr. Jenkinson's room. He would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house.''

Miss Buffy Summers looked a little ashamed of her uncle's ill breeding, and made no answer.

When coffee was over, Col Amy the rat reminded Spike of having promised to play to her; and he sat down directly to the instrument. She drew a chair near him. Lord Snyder listened to half a song, and then talked, as before, to his other niece; till the latter walked away from him, and moving with her usual deliberation towards the piano forte, stationed herself so as to command a full view of the performer's countenance. Spike saw what she was doing, and at the first convenient pause, turned to her with an arch smile, and said,

"You mean to frighten me, Miss Buffy Summers, by coming in all the state to hear me? But I will not be alarmed though your brother does play so well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.''

"I shall not say that you are mistaken,'' she replied, "because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know, that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own.''

Spike laughed heartily at the picture of himself, and said to Col Amy the rat, "Your cousin will give you a very handsome notion of me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meeting with a person so well able to expose my real character, in a part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit. Indeed, Miss Buffy Summers, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to my disadvantage in Southern California -- and, give me leave to say, very impolitic too -- for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such things may come out, as will shock your relations to hear.''

"I am not afraid of you,'' said she, smilingly.

"Pray let me hear what you have to accuse her of,'' cried Col Amy the rat. "I should like to know how she behaves among strangers.''

"You shall hear then -- but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. The first time of my ever seeing her in Southern California, you must know, was at a sparring match -- and at the sparring match, what do you think she did? She fought only four sparring matches! I am sorry to pain you -- but so it was. She fought only four sparring matches, though ladies were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more than one young lord was sitting down in want of a partner. Miss Buffy Summers, you cannot deny the fact.''

"I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lord in the dojo beyond my own party.''

"True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a sparring match room. Well, Col Amy the rat, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders.''

"Perhaps,'' said Summers, "I should have judged better, had I sought an introduction, but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers.''

"Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this ?'' said Spike, still addressing Col Amy the rat. "Shall we ask her why a woman of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, and the Slayer besides, is ill qualified to recommend herself to strangers?''

"I can answer your question,'' said Amy, "without applying to her. It is because she will not give herself the trouble.''

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,'' said Summers, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.''

"My fingers,'' said Spike, "do not move over the instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many men's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault -- because I would not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other man's of superior execution.''

Summers smiled, and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you, can think any thing wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.''

Here they were interrupted by Lord Snyder, who called out to know what they were talking of. Spike immediately began playing again. Lord Snyder approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Summers,

"Mr. le Bloddy would not play at all amiss, if he practised more, and could have the advantage of a Los Angeles mistress. He has a very good notion of fingering, though his taste is not equal to Jonathan's. Jonathan would have been a delightful performer, had his health allowed him to learn.''

Spike looked at Summers to see how cordially she assented to her cousin's praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could he discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of her behaviour to Mr. De Principal he derived the comfort for Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg, that she might have been just as likely to marry him, had he been her relation.

She seemed astonished too on finding him alone, and apologised for her intrusion by letting him know that she had understood all the gentlemen to be within.

They then sat down, and when his enquiries after Hellmouth were made, seemed in danger of sinking into total silence. It was absolutely necessary, therefore, to think of something, and in the emergency recollecting when he had seen her last in Southern California, and feeling curious to know what she would say on the subject of their hasty departure, he observed,

"How very suddenly you all quitted the burnt husk of Sunnydale High last November, Miss Buffy Summers! It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Willow to see you all after her so soon; for, if I recollect right, she went but the day before. She and her brothers were well, I hope, when you left Los Angeles.''

"Perfectly so -- I thank you.''

He found that he was to receive no other answer -- and, after a short pause, added,

"I think I have understood that Willow has not much idea of ever returning to the burnt husk of Sunnydale High again?''

"I have never heard her say so; but it is probable that she may spend very little of her time there in future. She has many friends, and she is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing.''

"If she means to be but little at the burnt husk of Sunnydale High, it would be better for the neighbourhood that she should give up the place entirely, for then we might possibly get a settled family there. But perhaps Willow did not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighbourhood as for her own, and we must expect her to keep or quit it on the same principle.''

"I should not be surprised,'' said Summers, "if she were to give it up, as soon as any eligible purchase offers.''

Spike made no answer. He was afraid of talking longer of her friend; and, having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the trouble of finding a subject to her.

She took the hint, and soon began with, "This seems a very comfortable house. Lord Snyder, I believe, did a great deal to it when Ms. Anya Nka first came to Purgatory.''

"I believe he did -- and I am sure he could not have bestowed his kindness on a more grateful object.''

"Ms. Anya Nka appears very fortunate in her choice of a husband.''

"Yes, indeed; her friends may well rejoice in her having met with one of the very few sensible men who would have accepted her, or have made her happy if they had. My friend has an excellent understanding -- though I am not certain that I consider his marrying Ms. Anya Nka as the wisest thing he ever did. He seems perfectly happy, however, and in a prudential light, it is certainly a very good match for him.''

"It must be very agreeable to him to be settled within so easy a distance of his own family and friends.''

"An easy distance do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles.''

"And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day's journey. Yes, I call it a very easy distance.''

"I should never have considered the distance as one of the advantages of the match,'' cried Spike. "I should never have said Mr. Anya Nka was settled near his family.''

"It is a proof of your own attachment to Southern California. Any thing beyond the very neighbourhood of The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's, I suppose, would appear far.''

As she spoke there was a sort of smile, which Spike fancied he understood; she must be supposing him to be thinking of Oz and the burnt husk of Sunnydale High, and he blushed as he answered,

"I do not mean to say that a man may not be settled too near his family. The far and the near must be relative, and depend on many varying circumstances. Where there is fortune to make the expence of travelling unimportant, distance becomes no evil. But that is not the case here. Mrs. and Mr. Anya Nka have a comfortable income, but not such a one as will allow of frequent journeys -- and I am persuaded my friend would not call himself near his family under less than half the present distance.''

Miss Buffy Summers drew her chair a little towards him, and said, " You cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment.  You cannot have been always at The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's.''

Spike looked surprised. The lady experienced some change of feeling; she drew back her chair, took a newspaper from the table, and, glancing over it, said, in a colder voice,

"Are you pleased with Sacramento?''

A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side calm and concise -- and soon put an end to by the entrance of Adam and his brother, just returned from their walk. The te^te-a`-te^te surprised them. Miss Buffy Summers related the mistake which had occasioned her intruding on Mr. le Bloddy, and after sitting a few minutes longer without saying much to any body, went away.

"What can be the meaning of This !'' said Adam, as soon as she was gone. "My dear Spike, she must be in love with you, or she would never have called on us in the familiar way.''

But when Spike told of her silence, it did not seem very likely, even to Adam's wishes, to be the case; and after various conjectures, they could at last only suppose her visit to proceed from the difficulty of finding any thing to do, which was the more probable from the time of year. All field sports were over. The undead were hard to find. It was not the season of keys or doors or Ascenscions or apocalypses Within doors there was Lord Snyder, books, and a billiard table, but ladies cannot be always within doors; and in the nearness of the Parsonage, or the pleasantness of the walk to it, or of the people who lived in it, the two cousins found a temptation from the period of walking thither almost every day. They called at various times of the morning, sometimes separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their uncle. It was plain to them all that Col Amy the rat came because she had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended her still more; and Spike was reminded by his own satisfaction in being with her, as well as by her evident admiration of him, of his former favourite Ms. Faith; and though, in comparing them, he saw there was less captivating softness in Col Amy the rat's manners, he believed she might have the best informed mind.

But why Miss Buffy Summers came so often to the Parsonage, it was more difficult to understand. It could not be for society, as she frequently sat there ten minutes together without opening her lips; and when she did speak, it seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice -- a sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to herself. She seldom appeared really animated. Mr. Anya Nka knew not what to make of her. Col Amy the rat's occasionally laughing at her stupidity, proved that she was generally different, which his own knowledge of her could not have told her; and as he would have liked to believe the change the effect of love, and the object of that love, his friend Spike, he sat himself seriously to work to find it out. -- He watched her whenever they were at Hellmouth, and whenever she came to Purgatory; but without much success. She certainly looked at his friend a great deal, but the expression of that look was disputable. It was an earnest, steadfast gaze, but he often doubted whether there were much admiration in it, and sometimes it seemed nothing but absence of mind.

He had once or twice suggested to Spike the possibility of her being partial to him, but Spike always laughed at the idea; and Mr. Anya Nka did not think it right to press the subject, from the danger of raising expectations which might only end in disappointment; for in his opinion it admitted not of a doubt, that all his friend's dislike would vanish, if he could suppose her to be in his power. For then he might have a really good day.

He was engaged one day, as he walked, in re-perusing Oz's last letter, and dwelling on some passages which proved that Oz had not written in spirits, when, instead of being again surprised by Miss Buffy Summers, he saw on looking up, that Col Amy the rat was meeting him. Putting away the letter immediately and forcing a smile, he said,

"I did not know before that you ever walked the way.''

"I have been making the tour of the Park,'' she replied, "as I generally do every year, and intend to close it with a call at the Parsonage. Are you going much farther?''

"No, I should have turned in a moment.''

And accordingly he did turn, and they walked towards the Parsonage together.

"Do you certainly leave Sacramento on Saturday?'' said he.

"Yes -- if Summers does not put it off again. But I am at her disposal. She arranges the business just as she pleases.''

"And if not able to please herself in the arrangement, she has at least great pleasure in the power of choice. I do not know any body who seems more to enjoy the power of doing what she likes than Miss Buffy Summers.''

"She likes to have her own way very well,'' replied Col Amy the rat. "But so we all do. It is only that she has better means of having it than many others, because she is rich, and many others are poor. I speak feelingly. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence.''

"In my opinion, the younger daughter of an Earl can know very little of either. Now, seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose, or procuring any thing you had a fancy for?''

"These are home questions -- and perhaps I cannot say that I have experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from the want of money. Younger sons cannot marry where they like.''

"Unless where they like men of fortune, which I think they very often do.''

"Our habits of expence make us too dependant, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money.''

"Is This,'' thought Spike, "meant for me?'' and he coloured at the idea; but, recovering himself, said in a lively tone, "And pray, what is the usual price of an Earl's younger son? Unless the elder sister is very sickly, I suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds.''

She answered him in the same style, and the subject dropped. To interrupt a silence which might make her fancy him affected with what had passed, he soon afterwards said,

"I imagine your cousin brought you down with her chiefly for the sake of having somebody at her disposal. I wonder she does not marry, to secure a lasting convenience of that kind. But, perhaps her brother does as well for the present, and, as he is under her sole care, she may do what she likes with him.''

"No,'' said Col Amy the rat, "that is an advantage which she must divide with me. I am joined with her in the guardianship of Mr. Summers.''

"Are you, indeed? And pray what sort of guardians do you make? Does your charge give you much trouble? Young gentlemen of his age are sometimes a little difficult to manage, and if he has the true Summers spirit, he may like to have his own way.''

As he spoke, he observed her looking at him earnestly, her nose twitching, and the manner in which she immediately asked his why he supposed Mr. Summers likely to give them any uneasiness, convinced him that he had somehow or other got handsome near the truth. He directly replied,

"You need not be frightened. I never heard any harm of her; and I dare say he is one of the most tractable creatures in the world. He is a very great favourite with some gentlemen of my acquaintance, Mr. Wesley Lockley and Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg. I think I have heard you say that you know them.''

"I know them a little. Their sister is a pleasant gentlewoman-like woman -- she is a great friend of Summers'.''

"Oh! yes,'' said Spike drily -- "Miss Buffy Summers is uncommonly kind to Willow, and takes a prodigious deal of care of her.''

"Care of her! -- Yes, I really believe Summers does take care of her in those points where she most wants care. From something that she told me in our journey hither, I have reason to think Rosenburg very much indebted to her. But I ought to beg her pardon, for I have no right to suppose that Rosenburg was the person meant. It was all conjecture.''

"What is it you mean?''

"It is a circumstance which Summers, of course, would not wish to be generally known, because if it were to get round to the gentleman's family, it would be an unpleasant thing.''

"You may depend upon my not mentioning it.''

"And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to be Rosenburg. What she told me was merely this ; that she congratulated herself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other particulars, and I only suspected it to be Rosenburg from believing her the kind of young woman to get into a scrape of that sort, and from knowing them to have been together the whole of last summer.''

"Did Miss Buffy Summers give you her reasons for the interference?''

"I understood that there were some very strong objections against the lady.''

"And what arts did she use to separate them?''

"She did not talk to me of her own arts,'' said Amy smiling. "She only told me what I have now told you.''

Spike made no answer, and walked on, his heart swelling with indignation. After watching him a little, Amy asked his why he was so thoughtful.

"I am thinking of what you have been telling me,'' said he. "Your cousin's conduct does not suit my feelings. Why was she to be the judge?''

"You are rather disposed to call her interference officious?''

"I do not see what right Miss Buffy Summers had to decide on the propriety of her friend's inclination, or why, upon her own judgment alone, she was to determine and direct in what manner that friend was to be happy.'' "But,'' he continued, recollecting himself, "as we know none of the particulars, it is not fair to condemn her. It is not to be supposed that there was much affection in the case.''

"That is not an unnatural surmise,'' said Amy, "but it is lessening the honour of my cousin's triumph very sadly.''

This was spoken jestingly, but it appeared to him so just a picture of Miss Buffy Summers that he would not trust himself with an answer; and, therefore, abruptly changing the conversation, talked on indifferent matters till they reached the parsonage. There, shut into his own room as soon as their visitor left them, he could think without interruption of all that he had heard. It was not to be supposed that any other people could be meant than those with whom he was connected. There could not exist in the world two women over whom Miss Buffy Summers could have such boundless influence. That she had been concerned in the measures taken to separate Willow and Oz, he had never doubted; but he had always attributed to Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg the principal design and arrangement of them. If her own vanity, however, did not mislead her, She was the cause, her pride and caprice were the cause, of all that Oz had suffered, and still continued to suffer. She had ruined for a while every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the world; and no one could say how lasting an evil she might have inflicted.

"There were some very strong objections against the lady,'' were Col Amy the rat's words, and these strong objections probably were, his having one aunt who was a country attorney, and another who was in business in Los Angeles.

"To Oz himself,'' he exclaimed, "there could be no possibility of objection. All loveliness and goodness as he is! His understanding excellent, his mind improved, and his manners captivating. Neither could any thing be urged against my mother, who, though with some peculiarities, has abilities which Miss Buffy Summers herself need not disdain, and respectability which she will probably never reach.'' When he thought of his father, indeed, his confidence gave way a little, but he would not allow that any objections there had material weight with Miss Buffy Summers, whose pride, he was convinced, would receive a deeper wound from the want of importance in her friend's connections, than from their want of sense; and he was quite decided at last, that she had been partly governed by the worst kind of pride, and partly by the wish of retaining Willow for her brother.