castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第16章
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threefold； with bills as long as my arm； of years' and years' standing。 My
son Jason had 'em all handed over to him； and the pressing letters were all
unread by Sir Condy； who hated trouble； and could never be brought to
hear talk of business； but still put it off and put it off； saying； 'Settle it
anyhow；' or； 'Bid 'em call again to… morrow；' or； 'Speak to me about it some
other time。' Now it was hard to find the right time to speak； for in the
mornings he was a…bed； and in the evenings over his bottle； where no
gentleman chooses to be disturbed。 Things in a twelvemonth or so came
to such a pass there was no making a shift to go on any longer； though we
were all of us well enough used to live from hand to mouth at Castle
Rackrent。 One day； I remember； when there was a power of company； all
sitting after dinner in the dusk； not to say dark； in the drawing…room； my
lady having rung five times for candles； and none to go up； the
housekeeper sent up the footman； who went to my mistress； and whispered
behind her chair how it was。
'My lady；' says he； 'there are no candles in the house。'
'Bless me；' says she； 'then take a horse and gallop off as fast as you can
to Carrick O'Fungus； and get some。'
'And in the meantime tell them to step into the playhouse； and try if
there are not some bits left；' added Sir Condy； who happened； to be within
hearing。 The man was sent up again to my lady； to let her know there
was no horse to go； but one that wanted a shoe。
'Go to Sir Condy then； I know nothing at all about the horses；' said my
lady； 'why do you plague me with these things？' How it was settled I
really forget； but to the best of my remembrance； the boy was sent down to
my son Jason's to borrow candles for the night。 Another time； in the
winter； and on a desperate cold day； there was no turf in for the parlour
and above stairs； and scarce enough for the cook in the kitchen。 The little
GOSSOON was sent off to the neighbours； to see and beg or borrow some；
but none could he bring back with him for love or money； ＇GOSSOON：
a little boyfrom the French word GARCON。 In most Irish families there
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used to be a barefooted gossoon； who was slave to the cook and the butler；
and who； in fact； without wages； did all the hard work of the house。
Gossoons were always employed as messengers。 The Editor has known a
gossoon to go on foot； without shoes or stockings； fifty…one English miles
between sunrise and sunset。＇ so； as needs must； we were forced to trouble
Sir Condy'Well； and if there's no turf to be had in the town or country；
why； what signifies talking any more about it； can't ye go and cut down a
tree？'
'Which tree； please your honour？' I made bold to say。
'Any tree at all that's good to burn；' said Sir Condy； 'send off smart and
get one down； and the fires lighted； before my lady gets up to breakfast； or
the house will be too hot to hold us。'
He was always very considerate in all things about my lady； and she
wanted for nothing whilst he had it to give。 Well； when things were tight
with them about this time； my son Jason put in a word again about the
Lodge； and made a genteel offer to lay down the purchase…money； to
relieve Sir Condy's distresses。 Now Sir Condy had it from the best
authority that there were two writs come down to the sheriff against his
person； and the sheriff； as ill…luck would have it； was no friend of his； and
talked how he must do his duty； and how he would do it； if it was against
the first man in the country； or even his own brother； let alone one who
had voted against him at the last election； as Sir Condy had done。 So Sir
Condy was fain to take the purchase… money of the Lodge from my son
Jason to settle matters； and sure enough it was a good bargain for both
parties； for my son bought the fee…simple of a good house for him and his
heirs for ever； for little or nothing； and by selling of it for that same my
master saved himself from a gaol。 Every way it turned out fortunate for
Sir Condy； for before the money was all gone there came a general
election； and he being so well beloved in the county； and one of the oldest
families； no one had a better right to stand candidate for the vacancy； and
he was called upon by all his friends； and the whole county I may say； to
declare himself against the old member； who had little thought of a contest。
My master did not relish the thoughts of a troublesome canvass； and all the
ill…will he might bring upon himself by disturbing the peace of the county；
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besides the expense； which was no trifle； but all his friends called upon
one another to subscribe； and they formed themselves into a committee；
and wrote all his circular letters for him； and engaged all his agents； and
did all the business unknown to him； and he was well pleased that it
should be so at last； and my lady herself was very sanguine about the
election； and there was open house kept night and day at Castle Rackrent；
and I thought I never saw my lady look so well in her life as she did at that
time。 There were grand dinners； and all the gentlemen drinking success
to Sir Condy till they were carried off； and then dances and balls； and the
ladies all finishing with a raking pot of tea in the morning ＇See
GLOSSARY 25＇。 Indeed； it was well the company made it their choice
to sit up all nights； for there were not half beds enough for the sights of
people that were in it； though there were shake…downs in the drawing…
room always made up before sunrise for those that liked it。 For my part；
when I saw the doings that were going on； and the loads of claret that went
down the throats of them that had no right to be asking for it； and the
sights of meat that went up to table and never came down； besides what
was carried off to one or t'other below stair； I couldn't but pity my poor
master； who was to pay for all； but I said nothing； for fear of gaining
myself ill…will。 The day of election will come some time or other； says I
to myself； and all will be over； and so it did； and a glorious day it was as
any I ever had the happiness to see。
'Huzza！ huzza！ Sir Condy Rackrent for ever！' was the first thing I
hears in the morning； and the same and nothing else all day； and not a soul
sober only just when polling； enough to give their votes as became 'em；
and to stand the browbeating of the lawyers； who came tight enough upon
us； and many of our freeholders were knocked off； having never a freehold
that they could safely swear to； and Sir Condy was not willing to have any
man perjure himself for his sake； as was done on the other side； God
knows； but no matter for that。 Some of our friends were dumbfounded
by the lawyers asking them： Had they ever been upon the ground where
their freeholds lay？ Now； Sir Condy being tender of the consciences of
them that had not been on the ground； and so could not swear to a freehold
when cross…examined by them lawyers； sent out for a couple of cleavesful
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of the sods of his farm of Gulteeshinnagh； ＇At St。 Patrick's meeting；
London； March 1806； the Duke of Sussex said he had the honour of
bearing an Irish title； and； with the permission of the company； he should
tell them an anecdote of what he had experienced on his travels。 When he
was at Rome he went to visit an Irish seminary； and when they heard who
it was； and that he had an Irish title； some of them asked him； 'Please your
Royal Highness； since you are an Irish peer； will you tell us if you ever
trod upon Irish ground？' When he told them he had not； 'Oh； then；' said
one of the Order； 'you shall soon do so。' They then spread some earth；
which had been brought from Ireland； on a marble slab； and made him
stand upon it。＇ and as soon as the sods came into town； he set each man
upon his sod； and so then； ever after； you know； they could fairly swear
they had been upon the ground。 ＇This was actually done at an election in
Ireland。＇ We gained the day by this piece of honesty ＇See GLOSSARY
26＇。 I thought I should have died in the streets for joy when I seed my
poor master chaired； and he bareheaded； and it raining as hard as it could
pour； but all the crowds following him up and down； and he bowing and
shaking hands with the whole town。
'Is that Sir Condy Rackrent in the chair？' says a stranger man in the
crowd。
'The same；' says I。 'Who else should it be？ God bless him！'
'And I take it； then； you belong to him？' says he。
'Not at all；' says I； 'but I live under him； and have done so these two
hundred years and upwards； me and mine。'
'It's lucky for you； then；' rejoins he； 'that he is where he is； for was he
anywhere else but in the chair； this minute he'd be in a worse place； for I
was sent down on purpose to put him up； ＇TO PUT HIM UP： to put him in
gaol＇ and here's my order for so doing in my pocket。'
It was a writ that villain the wine merchant had marked against my
poor master for some hundreds of an old debt； which it was a shame to be
talking of at such a time as this。
'Put it in your pocket again； and think no more of it anyways for seven
years to come； my honest friend；' says I； 'he's a member of Parliament now；
praised be God； and such as you can't touch him： and if you'll take a fool's
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advice； I'd have you keep out of the way this day； or you'll run a good
chance of getting your
