castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第17节
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Sir Condy was obliged to pass new bonds for the interest； now grown
principal； and so on。 Whilst this was going on； my son requiring to be
paid for his trouble and many years' service in the family gratis； and Sir
Condy not willing to take his affairs into his own hands； or to look them
even in the face； he gave my son a bargain of some acres which fell out of
lease at a reasonable rent。 Jason set the land； as soon as his lease was
sealed； to under…tenants； to make the rent； and got two hundred a year
profit rent； which was little enough considering his long agency。 He
bought the land at twelve years' purchase two years afterwards； when Sir
Condy was pushed for money on an execution； and was at the same time
allowed for his improvements thereon。 There was a sort of hunting…lodge
upon the estate； convenient to my son Jason's land； which he had his eye
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upon about this time； and he was a little jealous of Sir Condy； who talked
of setting it to a stranger who was just come into the countryCaptain
Moneygawl was the man。 He was son and heir to the Moneygawls of
Mount Juliet's Town； who had a great estate in the next county to ours； and
my master was loth to disoblige the young gentleman； whose heart was set
upon the Lodge； so he wrote him back that the Lodge was at his service；
and if he would honour him with his company at Castle Rackrent； they
could ride over together some morning and look at it before signing the
lease。 Accordingly； the captain came over to us； and he and Sir Condy
grew the greatest friends ever you see； and were for ever out a…shooting or
hunting together； and were very merry in the evenings； and Sir Condy was
invited of course to Mount Juliet's Town； and the family intimacy that had
been in Sir Patrick's time was now recollected； and nothing would serve
Sir Condy but he must be three times a week at the least with his new
friends； which grieved me； who knew； by the captain's groom and
gentleman； how they talked of him at Mount Juliet's Town； making him
quite； as one may say； a laughing…stock and a butt for the whole company；
but they were soon cured of that by an accident that surprised 'em not a
little； as it did me。 There was a bit of a scrawl found upon the waiting…
maid of old Mr。 Moneygawl's youngest daughter； Miss Isabella； that laid
open the whole； and her father； they say； was like one out of his right mind；
and swore it was the last thing he ever should have thought of； when he
invited my master to his house； that his daughter should think of such a
match。 But their talk signified not a straw； for as Miss Isabella's maid
reported； her young mistress was fallen over head and ears in love with Sir
Condy from the first time that ever her brother brought him into the house
to dinner。 The servant who waited that day behind my master's chair was
the first who knew it； as he says； though it's hard to believe him； for he did
not tell it till a great while afterwards； but； however； it's likely enough； as
the thing turned out； that he was not far out of the way； for towards the
middle of dinner； as he says； they were talking of stage…plays； having a
playhouse； and being great play…actors at Mount Juliet's Town； and Miss
Isabella turns short to my master； and says：
'Have you seen the play…bill； Sir Condy？'
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'No； I have not；' said he。
'Then more shame for you；' said the captain her brother； 'not to know
that my sister is to play Juliet to…night； who plays it better than any woman
on or off the stage in all Ireland。'
'I am very happy to hear it；' said Sir Condy； and there the matter
dropped for the present。
But Sir Condy all this time； and a great while afterwards； was at a
terrible nonplus； for he had no liking； not he； to stage…plays； nor to Miss
Isabella eitherto his mind； as it came out over a bowl of whisky…punch at
home； his little Judy M'Quirk； who was daughter to a sister's son of mine；
was worth twenty of Miss Isabella。 He had seen her often when he
stopped at her father's cabin to drink whisky out of the eggshell； out
hunting； before he came to the estate； and； as she gave out； was under
something like a promise of marriage to her。 Anyhow； I could not but
pity my poor master； who was so bothered between them； and he an easy…
hearted man； that could not disoblige nobodyGod bless him！ To be sure；
it was not his place to behave ungenerous to Miss Isabella； who had
disobliged all her relations for his sake； as he remarked； and then she was
locked up in her chamber； and forbid to think of him any more； which
raised his spirit； because his family was； as he observed； as good as theirs
at any rate； and the Rackrents a suitable match for the Moneygawls any
day in the year； all which was true enough。 But it grieved me to see that；
upon the strength of all this； Sir Condy was growing more in the mind to
carry off Miss Isabella to Scotland； in spite of her relations； as she desired。
'It's all over with our poor Judy！' said I； with a heavy sigh； making
bold to speak to him one night when he was a little cheerful； and standing
in the servants' hall all alone with me as was often his custom。
'Not at all；' said he； 'I never was fonder of Judy than at this present
speaking； and to prove it to you；' said heand he took from my hand a
halfpenny change that I had just got along with my tobacco'and to prove
it to you； Thady；' says he； 'it's a toss… up with me which I should marry this
minute； her or Mr。 Moneygawl of Mount Juliet's Town's daughterso it is。'
Oh…boo！ boo！' ＇Boo！ Boo！an exclamation equivalent to PSHAW or
NONSENSE＇ says I； making light of it； to see what he would go on to
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next； 'your honour's joking； to be sure； there's no compare between our
poor Judy and Miss Isabella； who has a great fortune； they say。'
'I'm not a man to mind a fortune； nor never was；' said Sir Condy；
proudly； 'whatever her friends may say； and to make short of it；' says he；
'I'm come to a determination upon the spot。' With that he swore such a
terrible oath as made me cross myself。 'And by this book；' said he；
snatching up my ballad…book； mistaking it for my prayer…book； which lay
in the window；'and by this book；' says he； 'and by all the books that ever
were shut and opened； it's come to a toss…up with me； and I'll stand or fall
by the toss； and so Thady； hand me over that pin ＇PIN； read PEN。It
formerly was vulgarly pronounced PIN in Ireland＇ out of the ink…horn；'
and he makes a cross on the smooth side of the halfpenny； 'Judy M'Quirk；'
says he； 'her mark。'
＇HER MARK。It was the custom in Ireland for those who could not
write to make a cross to stand for their signature； as was formerly the
practice of our English monarchs。 The Editor inserts the facsimile of an
Irish mark； which may hereafter be valuable to a judicious antiquary
Her Judy X M'Quirk； Mark。 In bonds or notes signed in this manner a
witness is requisite； as the name is frequently written by him or her。＇
God bless him！ his hand was a little unsteadied by all the whisky…
punch he had taken； but it was plain to see his heart was for poor Judy。
My heart was all as one as in my mouth when I saw the halfpenny up in
the air； but I said nothing at all； and when it came down I was glad I had
kept myself to myself； for to be sure now it was all over with poor Judy。
'Judy's out a luck；' said I； striving to laugh。
'I'm out a luck；' said he； and I never saw a man look so cast down： he
took up the halfpenny off the flag； and walked away quite sober…like by
the shock。 Now； though as easy a man； you would think；
