"She's nice,'' said he.

"She is also handsome,'' replied Spike, "which a young woman ought likewise to be, if she possibly can. Her character is thereby complete.''

"Mmmmm... Freeze Frame." sighed Oz.

When this was followed up by no more sensible remark, Spike ran up the exercise room wall as an aid to an elegant and gentlemanly back flip over his brother with a quick roundhouse kick which swept the bemuzed Oz off his feet. "Now then, you were saying.''

Oz sighed, "We fought twice. An unexpected compliment.''

"Did not you expect it?'' Spike helped his brother to his feet. ''I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than her asking you again? She could not help seeing that you were about five times as handsome as every other man in the room. No thanks to her gallantry for that. Well, she certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like her. You have liked many a stupider person.''

"Spike!''

"Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in any body. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life. Whereas I know people to be pretty much as evil as I.''

"I'm not hasty; but I speak what I think.''

"I know you do; and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, to be honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others! Affectation of candour is common enough; -- one meets it every where. But to be candid without ostentation or design -- to take the good of every body's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad -- belongs to you alone. And so, you like the man's brothers too, do you? Their manners are not equal to hers.''

"Not; at first, but later...'' Oz shrugged. ''Mr. Riley Rosenburg is to live with his sister and keep her house; and he seems nice.''

Spike listened in silence, but was not convinced. Their behaviour at the dojo had not been calculated to please in general; and with more quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than his brother, he was very little disposed to approve them. They were in fact very fine gentlemen, not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of being agreeable where they chose it; but proud and conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private dojos in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank; and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the north of California; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their sister's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.

Willow inherited property to the amount of nearly an hundred thousand pounds from her mother, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to do it. -- Willow intended it likewise, and sometimes made choice of her county; but as she was now provided with a good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the easiness of her temper, whether she might not spend the remainder of her days at the burnt husk of Sunnydale High, and leave the next generation to purchase an estate.

Her brothers were very anxious for her having an estate of her own; but though she was now established only as a tenant, Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg was by no means unwilling to preside at her table, nor was Mr. Wesley Lockley, who had married a woman of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider her house as his home when it suited him. Willow had not been of age two years, when she was tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at the burnt husk of Sunnydale High. She did look at it and into it for half an hour, was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.

Between her and Summers there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character. -- Rosenburg was endeared to Summers by the easiness, openness, ductility of her temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to her own, and though with her own she never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Summers' regard Rosenburg had the firmest reliance, and of her judgment the highest opinion. In martial arts, Summers was the superior. Rosenburg was by no means deficient, but Summers was clever. She was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and her manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect her friend had greatly the advantage. Rosenburg was sure of being liked wherever she appeared; Summers was continually giving offence.

The manner in which they spoke of the Sunnydale dojo was sufficiently characteristic. Rosenburg had never met with pleasanter people or handsomer boys in her life; every body had been most kind and attentive to her, there had been no formality, no stiffness; she had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and as to Mr. le Bloddy, she could not conceive a deity more beautiful. Summers, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom she had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure. Mr. le Bloddy she acknowledged to be handsome, but he smiled too much.

WITHIN a short walk of The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's lived a family with whom the le Bloddys were particularly intimate. Dame Walsh had been formerly in trade, where she had made a tolerable fortune and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the King during her period of service in the Initiative, about which there many rumors as there will be in a small community the size of Sunnydale. 

The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given her a disgust to her business and to her residence in a small market town; and quitting them both, she had removed with her family to a house about a mile from Sunnydale, denominated from that period Walsh Lodge, where she could think with pleasure of her own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy herself solely in being civil to all the world, and in some small dabbling in an scientific exploration of some of the lessor sub-terrestrial races. 

Though elated by her rank, it did not render her supercilious; on the contrary, she was all attention to every body. By nature inoffensive, friendly and obliging, her presentation at the capital's had made her courteous.

Dr. Angleman Walsh, her husband, was a very good kind of man, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy. - The Walshes had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young man, about twenty-seven, was Spike's intimate friend.

That the Mr. Walshes and the Mr. le Bloddys should meet to talk after a sparring match was absolutely necessary; and the morning after the match brought the former to The Ubiquitous Warehouse of the Le Bloddy's to hear and to communicate.

" You began the evening well, Adam,'' said Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy with civil self-command to Mr. Walsh. "You were Willow's first choice.''

"Yes; -- but she seemed to like her second better.''

"Golly Gee. -- you mean Oz, I suppose -- because she fought with him twice. To be sure that did seem as if she admired him -- indeed I rather believe she did -- I heard something about it -- but I hardly know what -- something about Mrs. Robinson.''

"Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mrs. Robinson; did not I mention it to you? Mrs. Robinson's asking her how she liked our Sunnydale assemblies, and whether she did not think there were a great many handsome men in the room, and which she thought the prettiest? and her answering immediately to the last question -- "Oh! the eldest Mr. le Bloddy beyond a doubt, there cannot be two opinions on that point."''

"Upon my word! -- Well, that was very decided indeed -- that does seem as if -- but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.''

" My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Spike,'' said Adam. "Miss Buffy Summers is not so well worth listening to as her friend, is she? -- Poor Spike! -- to be only just tolerable.''

"I beg you would not put it into Spikey's head to be vexed by her ill-treatment; for she is such a disagreeable woman that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by her. Mr. Long told me last night that she sat close to him for half an hour without once opening her lips.''

"Miss Buffy spoke.'' said Oz. 

"Aye -- because he asked her at last how she liked the burnt husk of Sunnydale High, and she could not help answering him; -- but he said she seemed very angry at being spoke to.''

"Mr. Riley Rosenburg told me,'' said Oz, "Miss Buffy doesn't say much.''

"I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If she had been so very agreeable, she would have talked to Mr. Long. But I can guess how it was; every body says that she is ate up with pride, and I dare say she had heard somehow that Mr. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to the sparring match in a hack chaise.''

"I do not mind her not talking to Mr. Long,'' said Mr. Walsh, "but I wish she had fought with Spike.''

"Another time, Spikey,'' said his father, "I would not fight with her, if I were you.''

"I believe, Sir, I may safely promise you never to fight with her.''

"Her pride,'' said Mr. Walsh, "does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young woman, with family, fortune, destiny, every thing in her favour, should think highly of herself. If I may so express it, she has a right to be proud.''

"That is very true,'' replied Spike, "and I could easily forgive her pride, if she had not mortified mine.''

"Pride,'' observed Anointed One, who piqued himself upon the solidity of his reflections, "is a very common failing I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed, that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonimously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.''

"If I were as rich as Miss Buffy Summers,'' cried a young Walsh who came with her brothers, "I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine every day.''

"Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought,'' said Mayor Wilkins-le Bloddy; "and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly and give you a glass of milk. Don't smile at me. There is nothing wrong with strong teeth and bones.''

"It may perhaps be pleasant,'' replied Adam, "to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a man conceals his affection with the same skill from the object of it, he may lose the opportunity of fixing her; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely -- a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a man had better shew more affection than he feels. Rosenburg likes your brother undoubtedly; but she may never do more than like him, if he does not help her on.''

"But he does help her on, as much as his nature will allow. If I can perceive his regard for her, she must be a simpleton indeed not to discover it too.''

"Remember, Spike, that she does not know Oz's disposition as you do.'' Spike in fact had an uncannily ability to discern the personal foibles of others and even occasionally his own. If he was to be love's bitch, then it was evidently to his credit, that he would be man enough to admit it.

"But if a man is partial to a woman, and does not endeavour to conceal it, she must find it out.''

"Perhaps she must, if she sees enough of him. But though Rosenburg and Oz meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together. Oz should therefore make the most of every half hour in which he can command her attention. When he is secure of her, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as he chuses.''

"Your plan is a good one,'' replied Spike, "where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married; and if I were determined to get a rich wife, or any wife, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Oz's feelings; he is not acting by design. As yet, he cannot even be certain of the degree of his own regard, nor of its reasonableness. He has known her only a fortnight. He fought four sparring matches with her at Sunnydale; he saw her one morning at her own house, and has since dined in company with her four times. This is not quite enough to make him understand her character.''

"Not as you represent it. Had he merely dined with her, he might only have discovered whether she had a good appetite; but you must remember that four evenings have been also spent together -- and four evenings may do a great deal.''

"Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like Books better than Commerce; but with respect to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded.''

"Well,'' said Adam, "I wish Oz success with all my heart; and if he were married to her to-morrow, I should think he had as good a chance of happiness as if he were to be studying her character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.''

"Wow. I mean, yeah.  I get why the demons all fall in line with you. You're like Tony Robbins. If he was a big scary . . Frankenstein looking-- You're exactly like Tony Robbins. Bloody hell, Adam, what are your going on about. Don't make me laugh, Adam; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in the way yourself.''

Occupied in observing Willow's attentions to his brother, Spike was far from suspecting that he was himself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of her friend. 

Miss Buffy Summers had at first scarcely allowed him to be handsome; she had looked at him without admiration at the sparring match; and when they next met, she looked at him only to criticise. But no sooner had she made it clear to herself and her friends that he had hardly a good feature in his face, than she began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of his dark eyes. To the discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though she had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in his form, she was forced to acknowledge his figure to be pleasing; and in spite of her asserting that his manners were not those of the fashionable world, she was caught by their charm. Of This he was perfectly unaware; -- to him she was only the woman who made herself agreeable no where, and who had not thought him handsome enough to fight with.

Buffy began to wish to know more of him, and as a step towards conversing with him herself, attended to his conversation with others. Her doing so drew his notice. It was at Dame Walsh's, where a large party were assembled. "What does Miss Buffy Summers mean,'' said he to Adam, "by listening to my conversation with Colonel Cordelia Chase? Buffy, Buffy, Buffy! Everywhere I turn, she's there! That nasty little face, that...bouncing shampoo-commercial hair, that whole sodding holier-than-thou attitude." 

To which Mr. Adam Walsh in all fairness was forced to reply, "Well, aren't we kinda unholy, by the-" 

Mr Spike le Bloddy angrily interrupted him, "She follows me, you know, tracks me down. I'm her pet project. Drive Spike round the bend. Makes every day a fresh bout of torture." 

"Now Spike you know that that is not true." 

"You don't understand. I can't get rid of her. She's everywhere. She's haunting me, Adam! This... has got to end. What is she trying to do to me?" 

"That is a question which Miss Buffy Summers only can answer.''

"But if she does it any more, I shall certainly let her know that I see what she is about. She has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of her.''

On her approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Mr. Walsh defied his friend to mention such a subject to her, which immediately provoking Spike to do it, he turned to her and said,

"Did not you think, Miss Buffy Summers, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teazing Col. Cordelia to give us a sparring match?''

"With great energy; -- but it is a subject which always makes a lord energetic.''

"You are severe on us.''

"It will be her turn soon to be teazed,'' said Mr. Walsh. "I am going to open the instrument, Spike, and you know what follows.''

"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! -- always wanting me to sing before any body and every body! -- If my vanity had taken a singing turn... what am I saying. Of course my vanity takes a turn to fighting not singing.'' he added, "Very well; if it must be so, it must.'' And gravely glancing at Miss Buffy Summers, "There is a fine old saying, which every body here is of course familiar with -- "Keep your breath to cool your porridge," -- and I shall keep mine to swell my song.''

His performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before he could reply to the entreaties of several that he would sing again, he was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by his brother Anointed One, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.

Anointed One had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given him application, it had given him likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than he had reached. Spike, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Anointed One, at the end of a long concerto of mopey melodies, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by playing the Mortal Combat soundtrack, at the request of his younger brothers, who, with some of the Walshes and two or three officers, joined eagerly in sparring at one end of the room.

Miss Buffy Summers stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by her own thoughts to perceive that Dame Walsh was her neighbour, till Dame Walsh thus began.

"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Miss Buffy Summers! -- There is nothing like sparring after all. -- I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies.''

"Certainly, Madam; -- and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. -- Every savage can fight.''

Dame Walsh only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully;'' she continued after a pause, on seeing Rosenburg join the group; -- "and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Miss Buffy Summers.''

"You saw me fight at Sunnydale, I believe, Ma'am ''

"Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often fight the forces of darkness in Los Angeles?''

"Never, Ma'am ''

"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?''

"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place, if I can avoid it. I just want to be a normal girl.''

"You have a house in town?''

Miss Buffy Summers bowed.

"I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself -- for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of Los Angeles would agree with Dr. Angleman Walsh.''

She paused in hopes of an answer; but her companion was not disposed to make any; and Spike at that instant moving towards them, she was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to him.

"My dear Mr. Spike, why are not you sparring? -- Miss Buffy Summers, you must allow me to present this young lord to you as a very desirable partner. -- You cannot refuse to fight, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you.'' And taking his hand, she would have given it to Miss Buffy Summers, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when he instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Dame Walsh,

"Indeed, Ma'am, I have not the least intention of sparring. -- I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.''

Miss Buffy Summers with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honour of his hand; but in vain. Spike was determined; nor did Dame Walsh at all shake his purpose by her attempt at persuasion.

"You excel so much in the fight, Mr. Spike, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though the lady dislikes the amusement in general, she can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour.''

"Miss Buffy Summers is all politeness,'' said Spike, smirking.

"She is indeed -- but considering the inducement, my dear Mr. Spike, we cannot wonder at her complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?''

Spike looked archly, and turned away. His resistance had not injured him with the gentlewoman, and she was thinking of him with some complacency, when thus accosted by Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg.

"I can guess the subject of your reverie.''

"I should imagine not.''

"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in the manner -- in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people! -- What would I give to hear your strictures on them!''

"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a handsome man can bestow.''

Mr. Riley Rosenburg immediately fixed his eyes on her face, and desired she would tell him what lord had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Miss Buffy Summers replied with great intrepidity,

"Mr. Spike le Bloddy.''

"Mr. Spike le Bloddy!'' repeated Mr. Riley Finn Rosenburg. "I am all astonishment. How long has he been such a favourite? -- and pray when am I to wish you joy?''

"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A gentleman's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.''

"Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming father-in-law, indeed, and of course he will be always at The Bronze with you.''