castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第12节
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on the stairs ＇See GLOSSARY 15＇。 All on a sudden he stopped； and my
lady too。 Something has surely happened； thought I； and so it was； for
Sir Murtagh in his passion broke a blood…vessel； and all the law in the land
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could do nothing in that case。 My lady sent for five physicians； but Sir
Murtagh died； and was buried。 She had a fine jointure settled upon her；
and took herself away； to the great joy of the tenantry。 I never said
anything one way or the other whilst she was part of the family； but got up
to see her go at three o'clock in the morning。
'It's a fine morning； honest Thady；' says she； 'good…bye to ye。' And into
the carriage she stepped； without a word more； good or bad； or even half…
a…crown； but I made my bow； and stood to see her safe out of sight for the
sake of the family。
Then we were all bustle in the house； which made me keep out of the
way； for I walk slow and hate a bustle； but the house was all hurry…skurry；
preparing for my new master。 Sir Murtagh； I forgot to notice； had no
childer ＇CHILDER： this is the manner in which many of Thady's rank；
and others in Ireland； formerly pronounced the word CHILDREN＇； so the
Rackrent estate went to his younger brother； a young dashing officer； who
came amongst us before I knew for the life of me whereabouts I was； in a
gig or some of them things； with another spark along with him； and led
horses； and servants； and dogs； and scarce a place to put any Christian of
them into； for my late lady had sent all the feather…beds off before her； and
blankets and household linen； down to the very knife…cloths； on the cars to
Dublin； which were all her own； lawfully paid for out of her own money。
So the house was quite bare； and my young master； the moment ever he
set foot in it out of his gig； thought all those things must come of
themselves； I believe； for he never looked after anything at all； but harum…
scarum called for everything as if we were conjurors； or he in a public…
house。 For my part； I could not bestir myself anyhow； I had been so
much used to my late master and mistress； all was upside down with me；
and the new servants in the servants' hall were quite out of my way； I had
nobody to talk to； and if it had not been for my pipe and tobacco； should； I
verily believe； have broke my heart for poor Sir Murtagh。
But one morning my new master caught a glimpse of me as I was
looking at his horse's heels； in hopes of a word from him。 'And is that
old Thady？' says he； as he got into his gig： I loved him from that day to
this； his voice was so like the family； and he threw me a guinea out of his
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waistcoat…pocket； as he drew up the reins with the other hand； his horse
rearing too； I thought I never set my eyes on a finer figure of a man； quite
another sort from Sir Murtagh； though withal； TO ME； a family likeness。
A fine life we should have led； had he stayed amongst us； God bless him！
He valued a guinea as little as any man： money to him was no more than
dirt； and his gentleman and groom； and all belonging to him； the same； but
the sporting season over； he grew tired of the place； and having got down a
great architect for the house； and an improver for the grounds； and seen
their plans and elevations； he fixed a day for settling with the tenants； but
went off in a whirlwind to town； just as some of them came into the yard
in the morning。 A circular letter came next post from the new agent； with
news that the master was sailed for England； and he must remit L500 to
Bath for his use before a fortnight was at an end； bad news still for the
poor tenants； no change still for the better with them。 Sir Kit Rackrent；
my young master； left all to the agent； and though he had the spirit of a
prince； and lived away to the honour of his country abroad； which I was
proud to hear of； what were we the better for that at home？ The agent
was one of your middlemen； who grind the face of the poor； and can never
bear a man with a hat upon his head： he ferreted the tenants out of their
lives； not a week without a call for money； drafts upon drafts from Sir Kit；
but I laid it all to the fault of the agent； for； says I； what can Sir Kit do with
so much cash； and he a single man？
＇MIDDLEMEN。There was a class of men； termed middlemen； in
Ireland； who took large farms on long leases from gentlemen of landed
property； and let the land again in small portions to the poor； as under…
tenants； at exorbitant rents。 The HEAD LANDLORD； as he was called；
seldom saw his UNDER…TENANTS； but if he could not get the
MIDDLEMAN to pay him his rent punctually； he WENT TO HIS LAND；
AND DROVE THE LAND FOR HIS RENT； that is to say； he sent his
steward； or bailiff； or driver； to the land to seize the cattle； hay； corn； flax；
oats； or potatoes； belonging to the under…tenants； and proceeded to sell
these for his rents。 It sometimes happened that these unfortunate tenants
paid their rent twice over； once to the MIDDLEMAN； and once to the
HEAD LANDLORD。
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The characteristics of a middleman were servility to his superiors and
tyranny towards his inferiors： the poor detested this race of beings。 In
speaking to them； however； they always used the most abject language；
and the most humble tone and posture'PLEASE YOUR HONOUR； AND
PLEASE YOUR HONOUR'S HONOUR；' they knew must be repeated as
a charm at the beginning and end of every equivocating； exculpatory； or
supplicatory sentence； and they were much more alert in doffing their caps
to those new men than to those of what they call GOOD OLD FAMILIES。
A witty carpenter once termed these middlemen JOURNEYMEN
GENTLEMEN。＇ But still it went。 Rents must be all paid up to the day；
and afore； no allowance for improving tenants； no consideration for those
who had built upon their farms： no sooner was a lease out； but the land
was advertised to the highest bidder； all the old tenants turned out； when
they spent their substance in the hope and trust of a renewal from the
landlord。 All was now let at the highest penny to a parcel of poor
wretches； who meant to run away； and did so； after taking two crops out of
the ground。 Then fining down the year's rent came into fashion ＇See
GLOSSARY 16＇ anything for the ready penny； and with all this and
presents to the agent and the driver ＇See GLOSSARY 17＇； there was no
such thing as standing it。 I said nothing； for I had a regard for the family；
but I walked about thinking if his honour Sir Kit knew all this； it would go
hard with him but he'd see us righted； not that I had anything for my own
share to complain of； for the agent was always very civil to me when he
came down into the country； and took a great deal of notice of my son
Jason。 Jason Quirk； though he be my son； I must say was a good scholar
from his birth； and a very 'cute lad： I thought to make him a priest ＇See
GLOSSARY 18＇； but he did better for himself； seeing how he was as good
a clerk as any in the county； the agent gave him his rent accounts to copy；
which he did first of all for the pleasure of obliging the gentleman； and
would take nothing at all for his trouble； but was always proud to serve the
family。 By and by a good farm bounding us to the east fell into his
honour's hands； and my son put in a proposal for it： why shouldn't he； as
well as another？ The proposals all went over to the master at the Bath；
who knowing no more of the land than the child unborn； only having once
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been out a…grousing on it before he went to England； and the value of
lands； as the agent informed him； falling every year in Ireland； his honour
