castle rackrent-第15章

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ng　you；　my　dear？'

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

'I　think　more　of　the　sorrows　of　Sir　Condy；'　says　my　master；　joking　like。　　'What　news　from　Mount　Juliet's　Town？'

'No　news；'　says　she；　'but　the　old　story　over　again；　my　friends　all　reproaching　me　still　for　what　I　can't　help　now。'

'Is　it　for　marrying　me？'　　said　my　master；　still　shaving。　'What　signifies；　as　you　say；　talking　of　that；　when　it　can't　be　help'd　now？'

With　that　she　heaved　a　great　sigh　that　I　heard　plain　enough　in　the　passage。

'And　did　not　you　use　me　basely；　Sir　Condy；'　says　she；　'not　to　tell　me　you　were　ruined　before　I　married　you？'

'Tell　you；　my　dear！'　said　he。　'Did　you　ever　ask　me　one　word　about　it。　　And　had　not　your　friends　enough　of　your　own；　that　were　telling　you　nothing　else　from　morning　to　night；　if　you'd　have　listened　to　them　slanders？'

'No　slanders；　nor　are　my　friends　slanderers；　and　I　can't　bear　to　hear　them　treated　with　disrespect　as　I　do；'　says　my　lady；　and　took　out　her　pocket…handkerchief；　'they　are　the　best　of　friends；　and　if　I　had　taken　their　adviceBut　my　father　was　wrong　to　lock　me　up；　I　own。　　That　was　the　only　unkind　thing　I　can　charge　him　with；　for　if　he　had　not　locked　me　up；　I　should　never　have　had　a　serious　thought　of　running　away　as　I　did。'

'Well；　my　dear；'　said　my　master；　'don't　cry　and　make　yourself　uneasy　about　it　now；　when　it's　all　over；　and　you　have　the　man　of　your　own　choice；　in　spite　of　'em　all。'

'I　was　too　young；　I　know；　to　make　a　choice　at　the　time　you　ran　away　with　me；　I'm　sure；'　says　my　lady；　and　another　sigh；　which　made　my　master；　half…shaved　as　he　was；　turn　round　upon　her　in　surprise。

'Why；　Bell；'　says　he；　'you　can't　deny　what　you　know　as　well　as　I　do；　that　it　was　at　your　own　particular　desire；　and　that　twice　under　your　own　hand　and　seal　expressed；　that　I　should　carry　you　off　as　I　did　to　Scotland；　and　marry　you　there。'

'Well；　say　no　more　about　it；　Sir　Condy；'　said　my　lady；　pettish…　like；　'I　was　a　child　then；　you　know。'

'And　as　far　as　I　know；　you're　little　better　now；　my　dear　Bella；　to　be　talking　in　this　manner　to　your　husband's　face；　but　I　won't　take　it　ill　of　you；　for　I　know　it's　something　in　that　letter　you　put　into　your　pocket　just　now　that　has　set　you　against　me　all　on　a　sudden；　and　imposed　upon　your　understanding。'

'It's　not　so　very　easy　as　you　think　it；　Sir　Condy；　to　impose　upon　my　understanding；'　said　my　lady。

'My　dear；'　says　he；　'I　have；　and　with　reason；　the　best　opinion　of　your　understanding　of　any　man　now　breathing；　and　you　know　I　have　never　set　my　own　in　competition　with　it　till　now；　my　dear　Bella；'　says　he；　taking　her　hand　from　her　book　as　kind　as　could　be'till　now；　when　I　have　the　great　advantage　of　being　quite　cool；　and　you　not；　so　don't　believe　one　word　your　friends　say　against　your　own　Sir　Condy；　and　lend　me　the　letter　out　of　your　pocket；　till　I　see　what　it　is　they　can　have　to　say。'

'Take　it　then；'　says　she；　'and　as　you　are　quite　cool；　I　hope　it　is　a　proper　time　to　request　you'll　allow　me　to　comply　with　the　wishes　of　all　my　own　friends；　and　return　to　live　with　my　father　and　family；　during　the　remainder　of　my　wretched　existence；　at　Mount　Juliet's　Town。'

At　this　my　poor　master　fell　back　a　few　paces；　like　one　that　had　been　shot。

'You're　not　serious；　Bella；'　says　he；　'and　could　you　find　it　in　your　heart　to　leave　me　this　way　in　the　very　middle　of　my　distresses；　all　alone'　　But　recollecting　himself　after　his　first　surprise；　and　a　moment's　time　for　reflection；　he　said；　with　a　great　deal　of　consideration　for　my　lady；　'Well；　Bella；　my　dear；　I　believe　you　are　right；　for　what　could　you　do　at　Castle　Rackrent；　and　an　execution　against　the　goods　coming　down；　and　the　furniture　to　be　canted；　and　an　auction　in　the　house　all　next　week？　　So　you　have　my　full　consent　to　go；　since　that　is　your　desire；　only　you　must　not　think　of　my　accompanying　you；　which　I　could　not　in　honour　do　upon　the　terms　I　always　have　been；　since　our　marriage；　with　your　friends。　　Besides；　I　have　business　to　transact　at　home；　so　in　the　meantime；　if　we　are　to　have　any　breakfast　this　morning；　let　us　go　down　and　have　it　for　the　last　time　in　peace　and　comfort；　Bella。'

Then　as　I　heard　my　master　coming　to　the　passage　door；　I　finished　fastening　up　my　slate　against　the　broken　pane；　and　when　he　came　out　I　wiped　down　the　window…seat　with　my　wig；　I　and　bade　him　a　'good…morrow'　as　kindly　as　I　could；　seeing　he　was　in　trouble；　though　he　strove　and　thought　to　hide　it　from　me。

＇Wigs　were　formerly　used　instead　of　brooms　in　Ireland　for　sweeping　or　dusting　tables；　stairs；　etc。　The　Editor　doubted　the　fact　till　he　saw　a　labourer　of　the　old　school　sweep　down　a　flight　of　stairs　with　his　wig；　he　afterwards　put　it　on　his　head　again　with　the　utmost　composure；　and　said；　'Oh；　please　your　honour；　it's　never　a　bit　the　worse。

It　must　be　acknowledged　that　these　men　are　not　in　any　danger　of　catching　cold　by　taking　off　their　wigs　occasionally；　because　they　usually　have　fine　crops　of　hair　growing　under　their　wigs。　The　wigs　are　often　yellow；　and　the　hair　which　appears　from　beneath　them　black；　the　wigs　are　usually　too　small；　and　are　raised　up　by　the　hair　beneath；　or　by　the　ears　of　the　wearers。＇

'This　window　is　all　racked　and　tattered；'　says　I；　'and　it's　what　I'm　striving　to　mend。'

'It　IS　all　racked　and　tattered；　plain　enough；'　says　he；　'and　never　mind　mending　it；　honest　old　Thady；'　says　he；　'it　will　do　well　enough　for　you　and　I；　and　that's　all　the　company　we　shall　have　left　in　the　house　by　and　by。'

'I'm　sorry　to　see　your　honour　so　low　this　morning；'　says　I；　'but　you'll　be　better　after　taking　your　breakfast。'

'Step　down　to　the　servants'　hall；'　said　he；　'and　bring　me　up　the　pen　and　ink　into　the　parlour；　and　get　a　sheet　of　paper　from　Mrs。　Jane；　for　I　have　business　that　can't　brook　to　be　delayed；　and　come　into　the　parlour　with　the　pen　and　ink　yourself；　Thady；　for　I　must　have　you　to　witness　my　signing　a　paper　I　have　to　execute　in　a　hurry。'

Well；　while　I　was　getting　of　the　pen　and　ink…horn；　and　the　sheet　of　paper；　I　ransacked　my　brains　to　think　what　could　be　the　papers　my　poor　master　could　have　to　execute　in　such　a　hurry；　he　that　never　thought　of　such　a　thing　as　doing　business　afore　breakfast　in　the　whole　course　of　his　life；　for　any　man　living；　but　this　was　for　my　lady；　as　I　afterwards　found；　and　the　more　genteel　of　him　after　all　her　treatment。

I　was　just　witnessing　the　paper　that　he　had　scrawled　over；　and　was　shaking　the　ink　out　of　my　pen　upon　the　carpet；　when　my　lady　came　in　to　breakfast；　and　she　started　as　if　it　had　been　a　ghost；　as　well　she　might；　when　she　saw　Sir　Condy　writing　at　this　unseasonable　hour。

'That　will　do　very　well；　Thady；'　says　he　to　me；　and　took　the　paper　I　had　signed　to；　without　knowing　what　upon　the　earth　it　might　be；　out　of　my　hands；　and　walked；　folding　it　up；　to　my　lady。

'You　are　concerned　in　this；　my　Lady　Rackrent；'　said　he；　putting　it　into　her　hands；　'and　I　beg　you'll　keep　this　memorandum　safe；　and　show　it　to　your　friends　the　first　thing　you　do　when　you　get　home；　but　put　it　in　your　pocket　now；　my　dear；　and　let　us　eat　our　breakfast；　in　God's　name。'

'What　is　all　this？'　said　my　lady；　opening　the　paper　in　great　curiosity。

'It's　only　a　bit　of　a　memorandum　of　what　I　think　becomes　me　to　do　whenever　I　am　able；'　says　my　master；　'you　know　my　situation；　tied　hand　and　foot　at　the　present　time　being；　but　that　can't　last　always；　and　when　I'm　dead　and　gone　the　land　will　be　to　the　good；　Thady；　you　know；　and　take　notice　it's　my　intention　your　lady　should　have　a　clear　five　hundred　a　year　jointure　out　the　estate　afore　any　of　my　debts　are　paid。'　　'Oh；　please　your　honour；'　says　I；　'I　can't　expect　to　live　to　see　that　time；　being　now　upwards　of　fourscore　years　of　age；　and　you　a　young　man；　and　likely　to　continue　so；　by　the　help　of　God。'

I　was　vexed　to　see　my　lady　so　insensible　too；　for　all　she　said　was；　'This　is　very　genteel　of　you；　Sir　Condy。　　You　need　not　wait　any　longer；　Thady。'　　So　I　just　picked　up　the　pen　and　ink　that　had　tumbled　on　the　floor；　and　heard　my　master　finish　with　saying；　'You　behaved　very　genteel　to　me；　my　dear；　when　you　threw　all　the　little　you　had　in　your　power　along　with　yourself　into　my　hands；　and　as　I　don't　deny　but　what　you　may　have　had　some　things　to　complain　of；'to　be　sure　he　was　thinking　then　of　Judy；　or　of　the　whisky…punch；　one　or　t'other；　or　both；'and　as　I　don't　deny　but　you　may　have　had　something　to　complain　of；　my　dear；　it　is　but　fair　you　should　have　something　in　the　form　of　compensation　to　look　forward　to　agreeably　in　future；　besides；　it's　an　act　of　justice　to　myself；　that　none　of　your　friends；　my　dear；　may　ever　have　it　to　say　against　me；　I　married　for　money；　and　not　for　love。'

'That　is　the　last　thing　I　should　ever　have　thought　of　saying　of　you；　Sir　Condy；'　said　my　lady；　looking　very　gracious。

'Then；　my　dear；'　said　Sir　Condy；　'we　shall　part　as　good　friends　as　we　met；　so　all's　right。'

I　was　greatly　rejoiced　to　hear　this；　and　went　out　of　the　parlour　to　report　it　all　to　the　kitchen。　　The　next　morning　my　lady　and　Mrs。　Jane　set　out　for　Mount　Juliet's　Town　in　the　jaunting…car。　Many　wondered　at　my　lady's　choosing　to　go　away；　considering　all　things；　upon　the　jaunting…car；　as　if　it　was　only　a　party　of　pleasure；　but　they　did　not　know　till　I　told　them　that　the　coach　was　all　broke　in　the　journey　down；　and　no　other　vehicle　but　the　car　to　be　had。　　Besides；　my　lady's　friends　were　to　send　their　coach　to　meet　her　at　the　cross…roads；　so　it　was　all　done　very　proper。

My　poor　master　was　in　great　trouble　after　my　lady　left　us。　The　execution　came　down；　and　everything　at　Castle　Rackrent　was　seized　by　the　gripers；　and　my　son　Jason；　to　his　shame　be　it　spoken；　amongst　them。　　I　wondered；　for　the　life　of　me；　how　he　could　harden　himself　to　do　it；　but　then　he　had　been　studying　the　law；　and　had　made　himself　Attorney　Quirk；　so　he　brought　down　at　once　a　heap　of　accounts　upon　my　master's　head。　　To　cash　lent；　and　to　ditto；　and　to　ditto；　and　to　ditto　and　oats；　and　bills　paid　at　the　milliner's　and　linen…draper's；　and　many　dresses　for　the　fancy　balls　in　Dublin　for　my　lady；　and　all　the　bills　to　the　workmen　and　tradesmen　for　the　scenery　of　the　theatre；　and　the　chandler's　and　grocer's　bills；　and　tailor's；　besides　butcher's　and　baker's；　and；　worse　than　all；　the　old　one　of　that　base　wine　merchant's；　that　wanted　to　arrest　my　poor　master　for　the　amount　on　the　election　day；　for　which　amount　Sir　Condy　afterwards　passed　his　note　of　hand；　bearing　lawful　interest　from　the　date　thereof；　and　the　interest　and　compound　interest　was　now　mounted　to　a　terrible　deal　on　many　other　notes　and　bonds　for　money　borrowed；　and　there　was；　besides；　hush…money　to　the　sub…sheriffs；　and　sheets　upon　sheets　of　old　and　new　attorneys'　bills；　with　heavy　balances；　'as　per　former　account　furnished；'　brought　forward　with　interest　thereon；　then　there　was　a　powerful　deal　due　to　the　Crown　for　sixteen　years'　arrear　of　quit…rent　of　the　town…lands　of　Carrickshaughlin；　with　driver's　fees；　and　a　compliment　to　the　receiver　every　year　for　letting　the　quit…rent　run　on　to　oblige　Sir　Condy；　and　Sir　Kit　afore　him。　　Then　there　were　bills　for　spirits　and　ribands　at　the　election　time；　and　the　gentlemen　of　the　committee's　accounts　unsettled；　and　their　subscription　never　gathered；　and　there　were　cows　to　be　paid　for；　with　the　smith　and　farrier's　bills　to　be　s