castle rackrent-第9章

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as　fast　as　possible；　for　the　reception　of　him　and　his　lady　before　that　time；　with　several　words　besides　in　the　letter；　which　we　could　not　make　out　because；　God　bless　him！　　he　wrote　in　such　a　flurry。　　My　heart　warmed　to　my　new　lady　when　I　read　this：　I　was　almost　afraid　it　was　too　good　news　to　be　true；　but　the　girls　fell　to　scouring；　and　it　was　well　they　did；　for　we　soon　saw　his　marriage　in　the　paper；　to　a　lady　with　I　don't　know　how　many　tens　of　thousand　pounds　to　her　fortune：　　then　I　watched　the　post…　office　for　his　landing；　and　the　news　came　to　my　son　of　his　and　the　bride　being　in　Dublin；　and　on　the　way　home　to　Castle　Rackrent。　　We　had　bonfires　all　over　the　country；　expecting　him　down　the　next　day；　and　we　had　his　coming　of　age　still　to　celebrate；　which　he　had　not　time　to　do　properly　before　he　left　the　country；　therefore；　a　great　ball　was　expected；　and　great　doings　upon　his　coming；　as　it　were；　fresh　to　take　possession　of　his　ancestors'　estate。　　I　never　shall　forget　the　day　he　came　home；　we　had　waited　and　waited　all　day　long　till　eleven　o'clock　at　night；　and　I　was　thinking　of　sending　the　boy　to　lock　the　gates；　and　giving　them　up　for　that　night；　when　there　came　the　carriages　thundering　up　to　the　great　hall　door。　　I　got　the　first　sight　of　the　bride；　for　when　the　carriage　door　opened；　just　as　she　had　her　foot　on　the　steps；　I　held　the　flam　full　in　her　face　to　light　her　＇See　GLOSSARY　19＇；　at　which　she　shut　her　eyes；　but　I　had　a　full　view　of　the　rest　of　her；　and　greatly　shocked　I　was；　for　by　that　light　she　was　little　better　than　a　blackamoor；　and　seemed　crippled；　but　that　was　only　sitting　so　long　in　the　chariot。

'You're　kindly　welcome　to　Castle　Rackrent；　my　lady；'　says　I　（recollecting　who　she　was）。　　'Did　your　honour　hear　of　the　bonfires？'

His　honour　spoke　never　a　word；　nor　so　much　as　handed　her　up　the　stepshe　looked　to　me　no　more　like　himself　than　nothing　at　all；　I　know　I　took　him　for　the　skeleton　of　his　honour。　　I　was　not　sure　what　to　say　next　to　one　or　t'other；　but　seeing　she　was　a　stranger　in　a　foreign　country；　I　thought　it　but　right　to　speak　cheerful　to　her；　so　I　went　back　again　to　the　bonfires。

'My　lady；'　says　I；　as　she　crossed　the　hall；　'there　would　have　been　fifty　times　as　many；　but　for　fear　of　the　horses；　and　frightening　your　ladyship；　Jason　and　I　forbid　them；　please　your　honour。'

With　that　she　looked　at　me　a　little　bewildered。

'Will　I　have　a　fire　lighted　in　the　state…room　to…night？'　was　the　next　question　I　put　to　her；　but　never　a　word　she　answered；　so　I　concluded　she　could　not　speak　a　word　of　English；　and　was　from　foreign　parts。　　The　short　and　the　long　of　it　was；　I　couldn't　tell　what　to　make　of　her；　so　I　left　her　to　herself；　and　went　straight　down　to　the　servants'　hall　to　learn　something　for　certain　about　her。　　Sir　Kit's　own　man　was　tired；　but　the　groom　set　him　a…talking　at　last；　and　we　had　it　all　out　before　ever　I　closed　my　eyes　that　night。　　The　bride　might　well　be　a　great　fortuneshe　was　a　JEWISH　by　all　accounts；　who　are　famous　for　their　great　riches。　　I　had　never　seen　any　of　that　tribe　or　nation　before；　and　could　only　gather　that　she　spoke　a　strange　kind　of　English　of　her　own；　that　she　could　not　abide　pork　or　sausages；　and　went　neither　to　church　or　mass。　　Mercy　upon　his　honour's　poor　soul；　thought　I；　what　will　become　of　him　and　his；　and　all　of　us；　with　his　heretic　blackamoor　at　the　head　of　the　Castle　Rackrent　estate？　　I　never　slept　a　wink　all　night　for　thinking　of　it；　but　before　the　servants　I　put　my　pipe　in　my　mouth；　and　kept　my　mind　to　myself；　for　I　had　a　great　regard　for　the　family；　and　after　this；　when　strange　gentlemen's　servants　came　to　the　house；　and　would　begin　to　talk　about　the　bride；　I　took　care　to　put　the　best　foot　foremost；　and　passed　her　for　a　nabob　in　the　kitchen；　which　accounted　for　her　dark　complexion　and　everything。

The　very　morning　after　they　came　home；　however；　I　saw　plain　enough　how　things　were　between　Sir　Kit　and　my　lady；　though　they　were　walking　together　arm　in　arm　after　breakfast；　looking　at　the　new　building　and　the　improvements。

'Old　Thady；'　said　my　master；　just　as　he　used　to　do；　'how　do　you　do？'

'Very　well；　I　thank　your　honour's　honour；'　said　I；　but　I　saw　he　was　not　well　pleased；　and　my　heart　was　in　my　mouth　as　I　walked　along　after　him。

'Is　the　large　room　damp；　Thady？~　said　his　honour。

'Oh　damp；　your　honour！　　how　should　it　be　but　as　dry　as　a　bone；'　says　I；　'after　all　the　fires　we　have　kept　in　it　day　and　night？　It's　the　barrack…room　your　honour's　talking　on　＇See　GLOSSARY　20＇。'

'And　what　is　a　barrack…room；　pray；　my　dear？'　　were　the　first　words　I　ever　heard　out　of　my　lady's　lips。

'No　matter；　my　dear；'　said　he；　and　went　on　talking　to　me；　ashamed…like　I　should　witness　her　ignorance。　　To　be　sure；　to　hear　her　talk　one　might　have　taken　her　for　an　innocent　＇See　GLOSSARY　21＇；　for　it　was；　'What's　this；　Sir　Kit？　　and　what's　that；　Sir　Kit？'　all　the　way　we　went。　　To　be　sure；　Sir　Kit　had　enough　to　do　to　answer　her。

'And　what　do　you　call　that；　Sir　Kit　？'　　said　she；　'that　that　looks　like　a　pile　of　black　bricks；　pray；　Sir　Kit？'

'My　turf…stack；　my　dear；'　said　my　master；　and　bit　his　lip。

Where　have　you　lived；　my　lady；　all　your　life；　not　to　know　a　turf…　stack　when　you　see　it？　　thought　I；　but　I　said　nothing。　　Then　by　and　by　she　takes　out　her　glass；　and　begins　spying　over　the　country。

'And　what's　all　that　black　swamp　out　yonder；　Sir　Kit？'　　says　she。

'My　bog；　my　dear；'　says　he；　and　went　on　whistling。

'It's　a　very　ugly　prospect；　my　dear；'　says　she。

'You　don't　see　it；　my　dear；'　says　he；　'for　we've　planted　it　out；　when　the　trees　grow　up　in　summer…time'　says　he。

'Where　are　the　trees；'　said　she；　'my　dear？'　　still　looking　through　her　glass。

'You　are　blind；　my　dear；'　says　he；　'what　are　these　under　your　eyes？'

'These　shrubs？'　　said　she。

'Trees；'　said　he。

'Maybe　they　are　what　you　call　trees　in　Ireland；　my　dear；'　said　she；　'but　they　are　not　a　yard　high；　are　they？'

'They　were　planted　out　but　last　year；　my　lady；'　says　I；　to　soften　matters　between　them；　for　I　saw　she　was　going　the　way　to　make　his　honour　mad　with　her：　　'they　are　very　well　grown　for　their　age；　and　you'll　not　see　the　bog　of　Allyballycarrick…o'shaughlin　at…　all…at…all　through　the　skreen；　when　once　the　leaves　come　out。　But；　my　lady；　you　must　not　quarrel　with　any　part　or　parcel　of　Allyballycarricko'shaughlin；　for　you　don't　know　how　many　hundred　years　that　same　bit　of　bog　has　been　in　the　family；　we　would　not　part　with　the　bog　of　Allyballycarricko'shaughlin　upon　no　account　at　all；　it　cost　the　late　Sir　Murtagh　two　hundred　good　pounds　to　defend　his　title　to　it　and　boundaries　against　the　O'Learys；　who　cut　a　road　through　it。'

Now　one　would　have　thought　this　would　have　been　hint　enough　for　my　lady；　but　she　fell　to　laughing　like　one　out　of　their　right　mind；　and　made　me　say　the　name　of　the　bog　over；　for　her　to　get　it　by　heart；　a　dozen　times；　then　she　must　ask　me　how　to　spell　it；　and　what　was　the　meaning　of　it　in　EnglishSir　Kit　standing　by　whistling　all　the　while。　　I　verily　believed　she　laid　the　corner…　stone　of　all　her　future　misfortunes　at　that　very　instant；　but　I　said　no　more；　only　looked　at　Sir　Kit。

There　were　no　balls；　no　dinners；　no　doings；　the　country　was　all　disappointedSir　Kit's　gentleman　said　in　a　whisper　to　me；　it　was　all　my　lady's　own　fault；　because　she　was　so　obstinate　about　the　cross。

'What　cross？'　　says　I；　　'is　it　about　her　being　a　heretic？'

'Oh；　no　such　matter；'　says　he；　'my　master　does　not　mind　her　heresies；　but　her　diamond　cross　it's　worth　I　can't　tell　you　how　much；　and　she　has　thousands　of　English　pounds　concealed　in　diamonds　about　her；　which　she　as　good　as　promised　to　give　up　to　my　master　before　he　married；　but　now　she　won't　part　with　any　of　them；　and　she　must　take　the　consequences。'

Her　honeymoon；　at　least　her　Irish　honeymoon；　was　scarcely　well　over；　when　his　honour　one　morning　said　to　me；　'Thady；　buy　me　a　pig！'　　and　then　the　sausages　were　ordered；　and　here　was　the　first　open　breaking…out　of　my　lady's　troubles。　　My　lady　came　down　herself　into　the　kitchen　to　speak　to　the　cook　about　the　sausages；　and　desired　never　to　see　them　more　at　her　table。　　Now　my　master　had　ordered　them；　and　my　lady　knew　that。　　The　cook　took　my　lady's　part；　because　she　never　came　down　into　the　kitchen；　and　was　young　and　innocent　in　housekeeping；　which　raised　her　pity；　besides；　said　she；　at　her　own　table；　surely　my　lady　should　order　and　disorder　what　she　pleases。　　But　the　cook　soon　changed　her　note；　for　my　master　made　it　a　principle　to　have　the　sausages；　and　swore　at　her　for　a　Jew　herself；　till　he　drove　her　fairly　out　of　the　kitchen；　then；　for　fear　of　her　place；　and　because　he　threatened　that　my　lady　should　give　her　no　discharge　without　the　sausages；　she　gave　up；　and　from　that　day　forward　always　sausages；　or　bacon；　or　pig…meat　in　some　shape　or　other；　went　up　to　table；　upon　which　my　lady　shut　herself　up　in　her　own　room；　and　my　master　said　she　might　stay　there；　with　an　oath：　　and　to　make　sure　of　her；　he　turned　the　key　in　the　door；　and　kept　it　ever　after　in　his　pocket。　We　none　of　us　ever　saw　or　heard　her　speak　for　seven　years　after　that：　　he　carried　her　dinner　himself。

＇This　part　of　the　history　of　the　Rackrent　family　can　scarcely　be　thought　credible；　but　in　justice　to　honest　Thady；　it　is　hoped　the　reader　will　recollect　the　history　of　the　celebrated　Lady　Cathcart's　conjugal　imprisonment。　　The　editor　was　acquainted　with　Colonel　M'Guire；　Lady　Cathcart's　husband；　he　has　lately　seen　and　questioned　the　maid…servant　who　lived　with　Colonel　M'Guire　during　the　time　of　Lady　Cathcart's　imprisonment。　　Her　ladyship　was　locked　up　in　her　own　house　for　many　years；　during　which　period　her　husband　was　visited　by　the　neighbouring　gentry；　and　it　was　his　regular　custom　at　dinner　to　send　his　compliments　to　Lady　Cathcart；　informing　her　that　the　company　had　the　honour　to　drink　her　ladyship's　health；　and　begging　to　know　whether　there　was　anything　at　table　that　she　would　like　to　eat？　　The　answer　was　always；　'Lady　Cathcart's　compliments；　and　she　has　everything　she　wants。'　　An　instance　of　honesty　in　a　poor　Irishwoman　deserves　to　be　recorded。　　Lady　Cathcart　had　some　remarkably　fine　diamonds；　which　she　had　concealed　from　her　husband；　and　which　she　was　anxious　to　get　out　of　the　house；　lest　he　should　discover　them。　She　had　neither　servant　nor　friend　to　whom　she　could　entrust　them；　but　she　had　observed　a　poor　beggar　woman；　who　used　to　come　to　the　house；　she　spoke　to　her　from　the　window　of　the　room　in　which　she　was　confined；　the　woman　promised　to　do　what　she　desired；　and　Lady　Cathcart　threw　a　parcel　containing　the　jewels　to　her。　　The　poor　woman　carried　them　to　the　person　to　whom　they　were　directed；　and　several　years　afterwards；　when　Lady　Cathcart　recovered　her　liberty；　she　received　her　diamonds　safely。

At　Colonel　M'Guire's　death　her　ladyship　was　released。　　The　editor；　within　this　year；　saw　the　gentleman　who　accompanied　her　to　England　after　her　husband's　death。　　When　she　first　was　told　of　his　death　she　imagined　that　the　news　was　not　true；　and　that　it　was　told　only　with　an　intention　of　deceiving　her。　　At　his　death　she　had　scarcely　clothes　sufficient　to　cover　her；　she　wore　a　red　wig；　looked　scared；　and　her　understanding　seemed　stupefied；　she　said　that　she　scarcely　knew　one　human　creature　from　another；　her　imprisonment　lasted　above　twenty　years。　　These　circumst