castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第13节
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lands； as the agent informed him； falling every year in Ireland； his honour
wrote over in all haste a bit of a letter； saying he left it all to the agent； and
that he must let it as well as he couldto the best bidder； to be sureand
send him over L200 by return of post： with this the agent gave me a hint；
and I spoke a good word for my son； and gave out in the country that
nobody need bid against us。 So his proposal was just the thing； and he a
good tenant； and he got a promise of an abatement in the rent after the first
year； for advancing the half…year's rent at signing the lease； which was
wanting to complete the agent's L200 by the return of the post； with all
which my master wrote back he was well satisfied。 About this time we
learnt from the agent； as a great secret； how the money went so fast； and
the reason of the thick coming of the master's drafts： he was a little too
fond of play； and Bath； they say； was no place for no young man of his
fortune； where there were so many of his own countrymen； too； hunting
him up and down； day and night； who had nothing to lose。 At last； at
Christmas； the agent wrote over to stop the drafts； for he could raise no
more money on bond or mortgage； or from the tenants； or anyhow； nor had
he any more to lend himself； and desired at the same time to decline the
agency for the future； wishing Sir Kit his health and happiness； and the
compliments of the season； for I saw the letter before ever it was sealed；
when my son copied it。 When the answer came there was a new turn in
affairs； and the agent was turned out； and my son Jason； who had
corresponded privately with his honour occasionally on business； was
forthwith desired by his honour to take the accounts into his own hands；
and look them over； till further orders。 It was a very spirited letter to be
sure： Sir Kit sent his service； and the compliments of the season； in
return to the agent； and he would fight him with pleasure to…morrow； or
any day； for sending him such a letter； if he was born a gentleman； which
he was sorry （for both their sakes） to find （too late） he was not。 Then； in
a private postscript； he condescended to tell us that all would be speedily
settled to his satisfaction； and we should turn over a new leaf； for he was
going to be married in a fortnight to the grandest heiress in England； and
had only immediate occasion at present for L200； as he would not choose
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to touch his lady's fortune for travelling expenses home to Castle Rackrent；
where he intended to be； wind and weather permitting； early in the next
month； and desired fires； and the house to be painted； and the new
building to go on 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。
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'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
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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 tha
