castle rackrent-第14章

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es　till　we　could　stand　no　longer　ourselves。　　And　little　did　I　think　at　the　time；　or　till　long　after；　how　I　was　harbouring　my　poor　master's　greatest　of　enemies　myself。　　This　fellow　had　the　impudence；　after　coming　to　see　the　chicken…yard；　to　get　me　to　introduce　him　to　my　son　Jason；　little　more　than　the　man　that　never　was　born　did　I　guess　at　his　meaning　by　this　visit：　　he　gets　him　a　correct　list　fairly　drawn　out　from　my　son　Jason　of　all　my　master's　debts；　and　goes　straight　round　to　the　creditors　and　buys　them　all　up；　which　he　did　easy　enough；　seeing　the　half　of　them　never　expected　to　see　their　money　out　of　Sir　Condy's　hands。　　Then；　when　this　base…　minded　limb　of　the　law；　as　I　afterwards　detected　him　in　being；　grew　to　be　sole　creditor　over　all；　he　takes　him　out　a　custodiam　on　all　the　denominations　and　sub…denominations；　and　even　carton　and　half…carton　upon　the　estate　＇See　GLOSSARY　27＇；　and　not　content　with　that；　must　have　an　execution　against　the　master's　goods　and　down　to　the　furniture；　though　little　worth；　of　Castle　Rackrent　itself。　　But　this　is　a　part　of　my　story　I'm　not　come　to　yet；　and　it's　bad　to　be　forestalling：　　ill　news　flies　fast　enough　all　the　world　over。

To　go　back　to　the　day　of　the　election；　which　I　never　think　of　but　with　pleasure　and　tears　of　gratitude　for　those　good　times：　　after　the　election　was　quite　and　clean　over；　there　comes　shoals　of　people　from　all　parts；　claiming　to　have　obliged　my　master　with　their　votes；　and　putting　him　in　mind　of　promises　which　he　could　never　remember　himself　to　have　made：　　one　was　to　have　a　freehold　for　each　of　his　four　sons；　another　was　to　have　a　renewal　of　a　lease；　another　an　abatement；　one　came　to　be　paid　ten　guineas　for　a　pair　of　silver　buckles　sold　my　master　on　the　hustings；　which　turned　out　to　be　no　better　than　copper　gilt；　another　had　a　long　bill　for　oats；　the　half　of　which　never　went　into　the　granary　to　my　certain　knowledge；　and　the　other　half　was　not　fit　for　the　cattle　to　touch；　but　the　bargain　was　made　the　week　before　the　election；　and　the　coach　and　saddle…horses　were　got　into　order　for　the　day；　besides　a　vote　fairly　got　by　them　oats；　so　no　more　reasoning　on　that　head。　　But　then　there　was　no　end　to　them　that　were　telling　Sir　Condy　he　had　engaged　to　make　their　sons　excisemen；　or　high　constables；　or　the　like；　and　as　for　them　that　had　bills　to　give　in　for　liquor；　and　beds；　and　straw；　and　ribands；　and　horses；　and　post…chaises　for　the　gentlemen　freeholders　that　came　from　all　parts　and　other　counties　to　vote　for　my　master；　and　were　not；　to　be　sure；　to　be　at　any　charges；　there　was　no　standing　against　all　these；　and；　worse　than　all；　the　gentlemen　of　my　master's　committee；　who　managed　all　for　him；　and　talked　how　they'd　bring　him　in　without　costing　him　a　penny；　and　subscribed　by　hundreds　very　genteelly；　forgot　to　pay　their　subscriptions；　and　had　laid　out　in　agents'　and　lawyers'　fees　and　secret　service　money　to　the　Lord　knows　how　much；　and　my　master　could　never　ask　one　of　them　for　their　subscription　you　are　sensible；　nor　for　the　price　of　a　fine　horse　he　had　sold　one　of　them；　so　it　all　was　left　at　his　door。　　He　could　never；　God　bless　him　again！　　I　say；　bring　himself　to　ask　a　gentleman　for　money；　despising　such　sort　of　conversation　himself；　but　others；　who　were　not　gentlemen　born；　behaved　very　uncivil　in　pressing　him　at　this　very　time；　and　all　he　could　do　to　content　'em　all　was　to　take　himself　out　of　the　way　as　fast　as　possible　to　Dublin；　where　my　lady　had　taken　a　house　fitting　for　him　as　a　member　of　Parliament；　to　attend　his　duty　in　there　all　the　winter。　　I　was　very　lonely　when　the　whole　family　was　gone；　and　all　the　things　they　had　ordered　to　go；　and　forgot；　sent　after　them　by　the　car。　　There　was　then　a　great　silence　in　Castle　Rackrent；　and　I　went　moping　from　room　to　room；　hearing　the　doors　clap　for　want　of　right　locks；　and　the　wind　through　the　broken　windows；　that　the　glazier　never　would　come　to　mend；　and　the　rain　coming　through　the　roof　and　best　ceilings　all　over　the　house　for　want　of　the　slater；　whose　bill　was　not　paid；　besides　our　having　no　slates　or　shingles　for　that　part　of　the　old　building　which　was　shingled　and　burnt　when　the　chimney　took　fire；　and　had　been　open　to　the　weather　ever　since。　I　took　myself　to　the　servants'　hall　in　the　evening　to　smoke　my　pipe　as　usual；　but　missed　the　bit　of　talk　we　used　to　have　there　sadly；　and　ever　after　was　content　to　stay　in　the　kitchen　and　boil　my　little　potatoes；　＇MY　LITTLE　POTATOES。Thady　does　not　mean　by　this　expression　that　his　potatoes　were　less　than　other　people's；　or　less　than　the　usual　size。　LITTLE　is　here　used　only　as　an　Italian　diminutive；　expressive　of　fondness。＇　and　put　up　my　bed　there；　and　every　post…day　I　looked　in　the　newspaper；　but　no　news　of　my　master　in　the　House；　he　never　spoke　good　or　bad；　but；　as　the　butler　wrote　down　word　to　my　son　Jason；　was　very　ill…used　by　the　Government　about　a　place　that　was　promised　him　and　never　given；　after　his　supporting　them　against　his　conscience　very　honourably；　and　being　greatly　abused　for　it；　which　hurt　him　greatly；　he　having　the　name　of　a　great　patriot　in　the　country　before。　　The　house　and　living　in　Dublin　too　were　not　to　be　had　for　nothing；　and　my　son　Jason　said；　'Sir　Condy　must　soon　be　looking　out　for　a　new　agent；　for　I've　done　my　part；　and　can　do　no　more。　　If　my　lady　had　the　bank　of　Ireland　to　spend；　it　would　go　all　in　one　winter；　and　Sir　Condy　would　never　gainsay　her；　though　he　does　not　care　the　rind　of　a　lemon　for　her　all　the　while。'

Now　I　could　not　bear　to　hear　Jason　giving　out　after　this　manner　against　the　family；　and　twenty　people　standing　by　in　the　street。　Ever　since　he　had　lived　at　the　Lodge　of　his　own　he　looked　down；　howsomever；　upon　poor　old　Thady；　and　was　grown　quite　a　great　gentleman；　and　had　none　of　his　relations　near　him；　no　wonder　he　was　no　kinder　to　poor　Sir　Condy　than　to　his　own　kith　or　kin。　＇KITH　AND　KIN：　family　or　relations。　KIN　from　KIND；　KITH　from　we　know　not　what。＇　In　the　spring　it　was　the　villain　that　got　the　list　of　the　debts　from　him　brought　down　the　custodiam；　Sir　Condy　still　attending　his　duty　in　Parliament　and　I　could　scarcely　believe　my　own　old　eyes；　or　the　spectacles　with　which　I　read　it；　when　I　was　shown　my　son　Jason's　name　joined　in　the　custodiam；　but　he　told　me　it　was　only　for　form's　sake；　and　to　make　things　easier　than　if　all　the　land　was　under　the　power　of　a　total　stranger。　Well；　I　did　not　know　what　to　think；　it　was　hard　to　be　talking　ill　of　my　own；　and　I　could　not　but　grieve　for　my　poor　master's　fine　estate；　all　torn　by　these　vultures　of　the　law；　so　I　said　nothing；　but　just　looked　on　to　see　how　it　would　all　end。

It　was　not　till　the　month　of　June　that　he　and　my　lady　came　down　to　the　country。　　My　master　was　pleased　to　take　me　aside　with　him　to　the　brewhouse　that　same　evening；　to　complain　to　me　of　my　son　and　other　matters；　in　which　he　said　he　was　confident　I　had　neither　art　nor　part；　he　said　a　great　deal　more　to　me；　to　whom　he　had　been　fond　to　talk　ever　since　he　was　my　white…headed　boy　before　he　came　to　the　estate；　and　all　that　he　said　about　poor　Judy　I　can　never　forget；　but　scorn　to　repeat。　　He　did　not　say　an　unkind　word　of　my　lady；　but　wondered；　as　well　he　might；　her　relations　would　do　nothing　for　him　or　her；　and　they　in　all　this　great　distress。　　He　did　not　take　anything　long　to　heart；　let　it　be　as　it　would；　and　had　no　more　malice　or　thought　of　the　like　in　him　than　a　child　that　can't　speak；　this　night　it　was　all　out　of　his　head　before　he　went　to　his　bed。　　He　took　his　jug　of　whisky…　punchmy　lady　was　grown　quite　easy　about　the　whisky…punch　by　this　time；　and　so　I　did　suppose　all　was　going　on　right　betwixt　them　till　I　learnt　the　truth　through　Mrs。　Jane；　who　talked　over　the　affairs　to　the　housekeeper；　and　I　within　hearing。　　The　night　my　master　came　home；　thinking　of　nothing　at　all　but　just　making　merry；　he　drank　his　bumper　toast　'to　the　deserts　of　that　old　curmudgeon　my　father…in…law；　and　all　enemies　at　Mount　Juliet's　Town。'　　Now　my　lady　was　no　longer　in　the　mind　she　formerly　was；　and　did　noways　relish　hearing　her　own　friends　abused　in　her　presence；　she　said。

'Then　why　don't　they　show　themselves　your　friends　'　said　my　master；　'and　oblige　me　with　the　loan　of　the　money　I　condescended；　by　your　advice；　my　dear；　to　ask？　　It's　now　three　posts　since　I　sent　off　my　letter；　desiring　in　the　postscript　a　speedy　answer　by　the　return　of　the　post；　and　no　account　at　all　from　them　yet。'

'I　expect　they'll　write　to　ME　next　post；'　says　my　lady；　and　that　was　all　that　passed　then；　but　it　was　easy　from　this　to　guess　there　was　a　coolness　betwixt　them；　and　with　good　cause。

The　next　morning；　being　post…day；　I　sent　off　the　gossoon　early　to　the　post…office；　to　see　was　there　any　letter　likely　to　set　matters　to　rights；　and　he　brought　back　one　with　the　proper　post…　mark　upon　it；　sure　enough；　and　I　had　no　time　to　examine　or　make　any　conjecture　more　about　it；　for　into　the　servants'　hall　pops　Mrs。　Jane　with　a　blue　bandbox　in　her　hand；　quite　entirely　mad。

'Dear　ma'am；　and　what's　the　matter？'　says　I。

'Matter　enough；'　says　she；　'don't　you　see　my　bandbox　is　wet　through；　and　my　best　bonnet　here　spoiled；　besides　my　lady's；　and　all　by　the　rain　coming　in　through　that　gallery　window　that　you　might　have　got　mended　if　you'd　had　any　sense；　Thady；　all　the　time　we　were　in　town　in　the　winter？'

'Sure；　I　could　not　get　the　glazier；　ma'am；'　says　I。

'You　might　have　stopped　it　up　anyhow；'　says　she。

'So　I；　did；　ma'am；　to　the　best　of　my　ability；　one　of　the　panes　with　the　old　pillow…case；　and　the　other　with　a　piece　of　the　old　stage　green　curtain。　　Sure　I　was　as　careful　as　possible　all　the　time　you　were　away；　and　not　a　drop　of　rain　came　in　at　that　window　of　all　the　windows　in　the　house；　all　winter；　ma'am；　when　under　my　care；　and　now　the　family's　come　home；　and　it's　summer…time；　I　never　thought　no　more　about　it；　to　be　sure；　but　dear；　it's　a　pity　to　think　of　your　bonnet；　ma'am。　　But　here's　what　will　please　you；　ma'ama　letter　from　Mount　Juliet's　Town　for　my　lady。

With　that　she　snatches　it　from　me　without　a　word　more；　and　runs　up　the　back　stairs　to　my　mistress；　I　follows　with　a　slate　to　make　up　the　window。　　This　window　was　in　the　long　passage；　or　gallery；　as　my　lady　gave　out　orders　to　have　it　called；　in　the　gallery　leading　to　my　master's　bedchamber　and　hers。　　And　when　I　went　up　with　the　slate；　the　door　having　no　lock；　and　the　bolt　spoilt；　was　ajar　after　Mrs。　Jane；　and；　as　I　was　busy　with　the　window；　I　heard　all　that　was　saying　within。

'Well；　what's　in　your　letter；　Bella；　my　dear？'　　says　he：　'you're　a　long　time　spelling　it　over。'

'Won't　you　shave　this　morning；　Sir　Condy？'　　says　she；　and　put　the　letter　into　her　pocket。

'I　shaved　the　day　before　yesterday；'　said　he；　'my　dear；　and　that's　not　what　I'm　thinking　of　now；　but　anything　to　oblige　you；　and　to　have　peace　and　quietness；　my　dear'and　presently　I　had　a　glimpse　of　him　at　the　cracked　glass　over　the　chimney…piece；　standing　up　shaving　himself　to　please　my　lady。　　But　she　took　no　notice；　but　went　on　reading　her　book；　and　Mrs；　Jane　doing　her　hair　behind。

'What　is　it　you're　reading　there；　my　dear？phoo；　I've　cut　myself　with　this　razor；　the　man's　a　cheat　that　sold　it　me；　but　I　have　not　paid　him　for　it　yet。　　What　is　it　you're　reading　there？　　Did　you　hear　me　asking　you；　my　dear？'

'THE　SORROWS　OF　WERTHER；'　replies　my　lady；　as　well　as　I　could　hear。

'I　think