castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第16节
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them； but thought it a pity they were not bestowed； if it had so pleased
God； upon a lady who would have become them better。 All these
civilities wrought little with my lady； for she had taken an unaccountable
prejudice against the country； and everything belonging to it； and was so
partial to her native land； that after parting with the cook； which she did
immediately upon my master's decease； I never knew her easy one instant；
night or day； but when she was packing up to leave us。 Had she meant to
make any stay in Ireland； I stood a great chance of being a great favourite
with her； for when she found I understood the weathercock； she was
always finding some pretence to be talking to me； and asking me which
way the wind blew； and was it likely； did I think； to continue fair for
England。 But when I saw she had made up her mind to spend the rest of
her days upon her own income and jewels in England； I considered her
quite as a foreigner； and not at all any longer as part of the family。 She
gave no vails to the servants at Castle Rackrent at parting； notwithstanding
the old proverb of 'as rich as a Jew；' which she； being a Jewish； they built
upon with reason。 But from first to last she brought nothing but
misfortunes amongst us； and if it had not been all along with her； his
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honour； Sir Kit； would have been now alive in all appearance。 Her
diamond cross was； they say； at the bottom of it all； and it was a shame for
her； being his wife； not to show more duty； and to have given it up when
he condescended to ask so often for such a bit of a trifle in his distresses；
especially when he all along made it no secret he married for money。 But
we will not bestow another thought upon her。 This much I thought it lay
upon my conscience to say； in justice to my poor master's memory。
'Tis an ill wind that blows nobody no good： the same wind that took
the Jew Lady Rackrent over to England brought over the new heir to
Castle Rackrent。
Here let me pause for breath in my story； for though I had a great
regard for every member of the family； yet without compare Sir Conolly；
commonly called； for short； amongst his friends； Sir Condy Rackrent； was
ever my great favourite； and； indeed； the most universally beloved man I
had ever seen or heard of； not excepting his great ancestor Sir Patrick； to
whose memory he； amongst other instances of generosity； erected a
handsome marble stone in the church of Castle Rackrent； setting forth in
large letters his age； birth； parentage； and many other virtues； concluding
with the compliment so justly due； that 'Sir Patrick Rackrent lived and
died a monument of old Irish hospitality。'
CONTINUATION OF THE MEMOIRS OF THE RACKRENT
FAMILY
HISTORY OF SIR CONOLLY RACKRENT
Sir Condy Rackrent； by the grace of God heir…at…law to the Castle
Rackrent estate； was a remote branch of the family。 Born to little or no
fortune of his own； he was bred to the bar； at which； having many friends
to push him and no mean natural abilities of his own； he doubtless would
in process of time； if he could have borne the drudgery of that study； have
been rapidly made King's Counsel at the least； but things were disposed of
otherwise； and he never went the circuit but twice； and then made no
figure for want of a fee； and being unable to speak in public。 He received
his education chiefly in the college of Dublin； but before he came to years
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of discretion lived in the country； in a small but slated house within view
of the end of the avenue。 I remember him； bare footed and headed；
running through the street of O'Shaughlin's Town； and playing at pitch…
and…toss； ball； marbles； and what not； with the boys of the town； amongst
whom my son Jason was a great favourite with him。 As for me； he was
ever my white…headed boy： often's the time； when I would call in at his
father's； where I was always made welcome； he would slip down to me in
the kitchen； and； love to sit on my knee whilst I told him stories of the
family and the blood from which he was sprung； and how he might look
forward； if the then present man should die without childer； to being at the
head of the Castle Rackrent estate。 This was then spoke quite and clear at
random to please the child； but it pleased Heaven to accomplish my
prophecy afterwards； which gave him a great opinion of my judgment in
business。 He went to a little grammar…school with many others； and my
son amongst the rest； who was in his class； and not a little useful to him in
his book…learning； which he acknowledged with gratitude ever after。
These rudiments of his education thus completed； he got a…horseback； to
which exercise he was ever addicted； and used to gallop over the country
while yet but a slip of a boy； under the care of Sir Kit's huntsman； who was
very fond of him； and often lent him his gun； and took him out a…shooting
under his own eye。 By these means he became well acquainted and
popular amongst the poor in the neighbourhood early； for there was not a
cabin at which he had not stopped some morning or other； along with the
huntsman； to drink a glass of burnt whisky out of an eggshell； to do him
good and warm his heart and drive the cold out of his stomach。 The old
people always told him he was a great likeness of Sir Patrick； which made
him first have an ambition to take after him； as far as his fortune should
allow。 He left us when of an age to enter the college； and there
completed his education and nineteenth year； for as he was not born to an
estate； his friends thought it incumbent on them to give him the best
education which could be had for love or money； and a great deal of
money consequently was spent upon him at College and Temple。 He was
a very little altered for the worse by what he saw there of the great world；
for when he came down into the country to pay us a visit； we thought him
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just the same man as everhand and glove with every one； and as far from
high； though not without his own proper share of family pride； as any man
ever you see。 Latterly； seeing how Sir Kit and the Jewish lived together；
and that there was no one between him and the Castle Rackrent estate； he
neglected to apply to the law as much as was expected of him； and secretly
many of the tenants and others advanced him cash upon his note of hand
value received； promising bargains of leases and lawful interest； should he
ever come into the estate。 All this was kept a great secret for fear the
present man； hearing of it； should take it into his head to take it ill of poor
Condy； and so should cut him off for ever by levying a fine； and suffering
a recovery to dock the entail ＇See GLOSSARY 24＇。 Sir Murtagh would
have been the man for that； but Sir Kit was too much taken up
philandering to consider the law in this case； or any other。 These practices
I have mentioned to account for the state of his affairsI mean Sir Condy's
upon his coming into the Castle Rackrent estate。 He could not command
a penny of his first year's income； which； and keeping no accounts； and the
great sight of company he did； with many other causes too numerous to
mention； was the origin of his distresses。 My son Jason； who was now
established agent； and knew everything； explained matters out of the face
to Sir Conolly； and made him sensible of his embarrassed situation。 With
a great nominal rent…roll； it was almost all paid away in interest； which
being for convenience suffered to run on； soon doubled the principal； and
Sir Condy was obliged to pass new bonds for the interest
