CHAPTER XIV (37)

Spike could not see Lord Snyder without recollecting that, had he chosen it, he might by the time have been presented to him as his future nephew; nor could he think, without a smile, of what his lordship's indignation would have been. "What would he have said? -- how would he have behaved?'' were questions with which he amused himself.

Their first subject was the diminution of the Hellmouth party. -- "I assure you, I feel it exceedingly,'' said Lord Snyder; "I believe nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly attached to these young men; and know them to be so much attached to me! -- They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The dear colonel rallied her spirits tolerably till just at last; but Summers seemed to feel it most acutely, more I think than last year. Her attachment to Hellmouth, certainly increases.''

Ms. Anya Nka had a pre-prepared compliment, and an allusion to throw in here, which were kindly smiled on by the father and son.

Lord Snyder observed, after dinner, that Mr. le Bloddy seemed out of spirits; and immediately accounting for it himself, by supposing that he did not like to go home again so soon, he added,

"But if that is the case, you must write to your father to beg that you may stay a little longer. Mr. Anya Nka will be very glad of your company, I am sure.''

"I am much obliged to your lordship for your kind invitation,'' replied Spike, "but it is not in my power to accept it. -- I must be in town next Saturday.''

"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected you to stay two months. I told Mr. Anya Nka so before you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy could certainly spare you for another fortnight.''

"But my mother cannot. -- She wrote last week to hurry my return.''

"Oh! your mother of course may spare you, if your father can. -- Sons are never of so much consequence to a mother. And if you will stay another month complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as Los Angeles, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as Dawson does not object to the Barouche box, there will be very good room for one of you -- and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I should not object to taking you both, as you are neither of you large.''

"You are all kindness, Sir; but I believe we must abide by our original plan.''

Lord Snyder seemed resigned.

"Ms. Anya Nka, you must send a servant with them. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of two young men travelling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world to that sort of thing. -- Young men should always be properly guarded and attended, according to their situation in life. When my nephew Xander went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of him having two women servants go with him. -- Mr. Summers, the son of Ms. Summers of The Bronze, and Lord Summers, could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner. -- I am excessively attentive to all those things. You must send John with the young gentlemen, Mr. Anya Nka. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it; for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go alone.''

"My aunt is to send a servant for us.''

"Oh! -- Your aunt! -- She keeps a man-servant, does she? -- I am very glad you have somebody who thinks of those things. Where shall you change horses? -- Oh! Bromley, of course. -- If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be attended to.''

Lord Snyder had many other questions to ask respecting their journey, and as he did not answer them all himself, attention was necessary, which Spike believed to be lucky for him, or, with a mind so occupied, he might have forgotten where he was. Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours; whenever he was alone, he gave way to it as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which he might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.

Miss Buffy Summers' letter, he was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. He studied every sentence: and his feelings towards its writer were at times widely different. When he remembered the style of her address, he was still full of indignation; but when he considered how unjustly he had condemned and upbraided her, his anger was turned against himself; and her disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. Her attachment excited gratitude, her general character respect; but he could not approve her; nor could he for a moment repent his refusal, or feel the slightest inclination ever to see her again. In his own past behaviour, there was a constant source of vexation; and in the unhappy defects of his family a subject of yet heavier chagrin. They were hopeless of remedy. His mother, contented with laughing at them, would never exert herself to restrain the wild giddiness of her youngest sons; and his father, with manners so far from right himself, was entirely insensible of the evil. Spike had frequently united with Oz in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Doyle and Angelus; but while they were supported by their father's indulgence, what chance could there be of improvement? Doyle, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Angelus's guidance, had been always affronted by their advice; and Angelus, self-willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Sunnydale, they would flirt with her; and while Sunnydale was within a walk of The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's, they would be going there for ever.

Anxiety on Oz's behalf was another prevailing concern, and Miss Buffy Summers' explanation, by restoring Miss Willow to all his former good opinion, heightened the sense of what Oz had lost. Her affection was proved to have been sincere, and her conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could attach to the implicitness of her confidence in her friend. How grievous then was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every respect, so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness, Oz had been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of his own family!

When to these recollections was added the development of Faith's character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had seldom been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it almost impossible for him to appear tolerably cheerful.

Their engagements at Hellmouth were as frequent during the last week of his stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent there; and his Lordship again enquired minutely into the particulars of their journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing, and was so urgent on the necessity of placing garments in the only right way, that Forest thought himself obliged, on his return, to undo all the work of the morning, and pack his trunk afresh.

When they parted, Lord Snyder, with great condescension, wished them a good journey, and invited them to come to Purgatory again next year; and Mr. De Principal exerted himself so far as to curtsey and hold out his hand to both.

CHAPTER XV (38)

"I know not, Mr. Spike,'' said she, "whether Mr. Anya Nka has yet expressed his sense of your kindness in coming to us, but I am very certain you will not leave the house without receiving his thanks for it. The favour of your company has been much felt, I assure you. We know how little there is to tempt any one to our humble abode. Our plain manner of living, our small rooms, and few domestics, and the little we see of the world, must make Purgatory extremely dull to a young lord like yourself; but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension, and that we have done every thing in our power to prevent your spending your time unpleasantly.''

Spike was eager with his thanks and assurances of happiness. He had spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being with Adam, and the kind attentions he had received, must make him feel the obliged. Ms. Anya Nka was gratified; and with a more smiling solemnity replied,

"It gives me the greatest pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and most fortunately having it in our power to introduce you to very superior society, and, from our connection with Hellmouth, the frequent means of varying the humble home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Purgatory visit cannot have been entirely irksome. Our situation with regard to Lord Snyder's family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage and blessing which few can boast. You see on what a footing we are. You see how continually we are engaged there. In truth I must acknowledge that, with all the disadvantages of the humble parsonage, I should not think any one abiding in it an object of compassion while they are sharers of our intimacy at Hellmouth.''

Words were insufficient for the elevation of her feelings; and she was obliged to walk about the room, while Spike tried to unite civility and truth in a few short sentences.

"You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into Southern California, my dear cousin. I flatter myself, at least, that you will be able to do so. Lord Snyder's great attentions to Mr. Anya Nka you have been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appear that your friend has drawn an unfortunate --; but on the point it will be as well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Mr. Spike, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Adam and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in every thing a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other. He has even been encouraging me to get back into vengeance as a hobby."

"Is that right?" said Spike.

"Well, you know how I miss it. I'm so at loose ends since I quit. I think this is going to

be a very big year for vengeance." 

Spike gave her an odd look, "But... isn't vengeance kind of... vengeful?" 

"You don't want me to have a hobby?" She smiled at Adam and gave him a little wave. He waved back at her.

"Huh, Yeah well, I'm going to go now. I'm happy that that is the case. I rejoice in your domestic comforts." Spike was not sorry, however, to have the recital of the Ms. Anya Nka's domestic comforts interrupted by the entrance of the lord from whom they sprung. Poor Adam! -- it was melancholy to leave him to such society! -- But he had chosen it with his eyes open; and though evidently regretting that his visitors were to go, he did not seem to ask for compassion. His home and his housekeeping, his parish and his poultry, demonic minions, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms.

At length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on, the parcels placed within, and it was pronounced to be ready. After an affectionate parting between the friends, Spike was attended to the carriage by Ms. Anya Nka, and as they walked down the garden, she was commissioning him with her best respects to all his family, not forgetting her thanks for the kindness she had received at The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's in the winter, and her compliments to Mrs. and Mr. Rupert Giles, though unknown. She then handed him in, Forest followed, and the door was on the point of being closed, when she suddenly reminded them, with some consternation, that they had hitherto forgotten to leave any message for the gentlemen at Hellmouth.

"But,'' she added, "you will of course wish to have your humble respects delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you while you have been here.''

Spike made no objection; -- the door was then allowed to be shut, and the carriage drove off.

"Good gracious!'' cried Forest, after a few minutes silence, "it seems but a day or two since we first came! -- and yet how many things have happened!''

"A great many indeed,'' said his companion with a sigh.

"We have dined nine times at Hellmouth, besides drinking tea there twice! -- How much I shall have to tell!''

Spike privately added, "And how much I shall have to conceal.''

Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm; and within four hours of their leaving Purgatory, they reached Mrs. Jenny Giles' house, where they were to remain a few days.

Oz looked well, and Spike had little opportunity of studying his spirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of his uncle had reserved for them. But Oz was to go home with him, and at The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's there would be leisure enough for observation.

It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that he could wait even for The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's, before he told his brother of Miss Buffy Summers' proposals. To know that he had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish Oz, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of his own vanity he had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation to openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision in which he remained as to the extent of what he should communicate; and his fear, if he once entered on the subject, of being hurried into repeating something of Rosenburg which might only grieve his brother farther.

CHAPTER XVI (39)

After welcoming their brothers, they triumphantly displayed a table set out with such cold meat as an inn larder usually affords, exclaiming, "Is not the nice? is not the an agreeable surprise?''

"And we mean to treat you all,'' added Angelus; "but you must lend us the money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there.'' Then shewing his purchases: "Look here, I have bought a sword with a statue of Acathla. I do not think it is very handsome; but I thought I might as well buy it as not. I shall dress it as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any better.''

"It's a big rock. I can't wait to tell my friends. They don't have a rock this big." Said Spike.

Angelus added, with perfect unconcern, "Oh! but there were two or three much uglier in the shop; and when I have bought some handsomer coloured satin to trim it with fresh, I think it will be very tolerable. Besides, it will not much signify the ----shire have left Sunnydale, and they are going in a fortnight.''

"Are they indeed?'' cried Spike, with the greatest satisfaction.

"They are going to be encamped near Palm Springs; and I do so want papa to take us all there for the summer! It would be such a delicious scheme, and I dare say would hardly cost any thing at all. Mamma would like to go too, of all things! Only think what a miserable summer else we shall have!''

"Yes,'' thought Spike, " that would be a delightful scheme, indeed, and completely do for us at once. Good Heaven! Palm Springs, and a whole campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one poor regiment of militia, and the monthly sparing matchs of Sunnydale.''

"Now I have got some news for you,'' said Angelus, as they sat down to table. "What do you think? It is excellent news, capital news, and about a certain person that we all like.''

Oz and Spike looked at each other, and the waiter was told that she need not stay. Angelus laughed, and said, "Aye, that is just like your formality and discretion. You thought the waiter must not hear, as if she cared! I dare say she often hears worse things said than I am going to say. But she is an ugly woman! I am glad she is gone. I never saw such a long chin in my life. Well, but now for my news: it is about dear Faith; too good for the waiter, is not it? There is no danger of Faith's marrying Mr King. There's for you! He is gone down to his aunt at Liverpool; gone to stay. Faith is safe.''

"And Mr King is safe!'' added Spike; "safe from a connection imprudent as to fortune.''

"He is a great fool for going away, if he liked her.''

"But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side,'' said Oz.

"I am sure there is not on her. I will answer for it she never cared three straws about him. Who could about such a nasty little freckled thing?''

Spike was shocked to think that, the sentiment was little other than his own breast had formerly harboured and fancied liberal!

As soon as all had ate, and the elder ones paid, the carriage was ordered; and, after some contrivance, the whole party, with all their boxes, workbags, and parcels, and the unwelcome addition of Doyle's and Angelus's purchases, were seated in it.

"How nicely we are crammed in!'' cried Angelus. "I am glad I bought Acathla, if it is only for the fun of having it! Well, now let us be quite comfortable and snug, and talk and laugh all the way home. And in the first place, let us hear what has happened to you all, since you went away. Have you seen any pleasant women? Have you had any flirting? I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a wife before you came back. Oz will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. He is almost three and twenty! Lord, how ashamed I should be of not being married before three and twenty! My uncle Philips wants you so to get husbands, you can't think. He says Spikey had better have taken Ms. Anya Nka; but I do not think there would have been any fun in it. Lord! how I should like to be married before any of you; and then I would chaperon you about to all the sparing matches. 

Dear me! we had such a good piece of fun the other day at Colonel Chase's. Doyle and me were to spend the day there, and Mr. Chase promised to have a little sparing match in the evening (by the bye, Mr. Chase and me are such friends!); and so he asked the two Harringtons to come, but Henry was ill, and so Pen was forced to come by herself; and then, what do you think we did? We dressed up the upstairsmaid, Chamberlayne, in men's clothes to pass for a gentlemen, -- only think what fun! Not a soul knew of it but Col. and Mr. Chase, and Doyle and me, except my uncle, for we were forced to borrow one of his suit; and you cannot imagine how well she looked! When Tara, and Faith, and Pratt, and two or three more of the women came in, they did not know her in the least. Lord! how I laughed! and so did Mr. Chase. I thought I should have died. And that made the women suspect something, and then they soon found out what was the matter.''

With such kind of histories of their parties and good jokes did Angelus, assisted by Doyle's hints and additions, endeavour to amuse his companions all the way to The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's. Spike listened as little as he could, but there was no escaping the frequent mention of Faith's name.

Their reception at home was most kind. Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy rejoiced to see Oz in undiminished beauty; and more than once during dinner did Mrs. Joyce le Bloddy say voluntarily to Spike,

"I am glad you are come back, Spikey.''

Their party in the dining-room was large, for almost all the Walshes came to meet Forest and hear the news: and various were the subjects which occupied them. Dr. Angleman Walsh was enquiring of Forest, across the table, after the welfare and poultry of his eldest son; Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy was doubly engaged, on one hand collecting an account of the present fashions from Oz, who sat some way below him, and on the other, retailing them all to the younger Mr. Walshes; and Angelus, in a voice rather louder than any other person's, was enumerating the various pleasures of the morning to any body who would hear him.

"Oh! Anointed One,'' said he, "I wish you had gone with us, for we had such fun! as we went along, Doyle and me drew up all the blinds, and pretended there was nobody in the coach; and I should have gone so all the way, if Doyle had not been sick; and when we got to the George, I do think we behaved very handsomely, for we treated the other three with the nicest cold luncheon in the world, and if you would have gone, we would have treated you too. And then when we came away it was such fun! I thought we never should have got into the coach. I was ready to die of laughter. And then we were so merry all the way home! we talked and laughed so loud, that any body might have heard us ten miles off!''

To This, Anointed One very gravely replied, "Far be it from me, my dear brother, to depreciate such pleasures. They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of male minds. But I confess they would have no charms for me. I should infinitely prefer a book.''

But of the answer Angelus heard not a word. He seldom listened to any body for more than half a minute, and never attended to Anointed One at all.

In the afternoon Angelus was urgent with the rest of the boys to walk to Sunnydale, and see how every body went on; but Spike steadily opposed the scheme. It should not be said, that the Mr. le Bloddys could not be at home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers. There was another reason too, for his opposition. He dreaded seeing Faith again, and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible. The comfort to him of the regiment's approaching removal was indeed beyond expression. In a fortnight they were to go, and once gone, he hoped there could be nothing more to plague him on her account.

He had not been many hours at home, before he found that the Palm Springs scheme, of which Angelus had given them a hint at the inn, was under frequent discussion between his parents. Spike saw directly that his mother had not the smallest intention of yielding; but her answers were at the same time so vague and equivocal, that his father, though often disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at last.
 

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