castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第21节
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against the master's goods and down to the furniture； though little worth；
of Castle Rackrent itself。 But this is a part of my story I'm not come to
yet； and it's bad to be forestalling： ill news flies fast enough all the world
over。
To go back to the day of the election； which I never think of but with
pleasure and tears of gratitude for those good times： after the election
was quite and clean over； there comes shoals of people from all parts；
claiming to have obliged my master with their votes； and putting him in
mind of promises which he could never remember himself to have made：
one was to have a freehold for each of his four sons； another was to have a
renewal of a lease； another an abatement； one came to be paid ten guineas
for a pair of silver buckles sold my master on the hustings； which turned
out to be no better than copper gilt； another had a long bill for oats； the
half of which never went into the granary to my certain knowledge； and
the other half was not fit for the cattle to touch； but the bargain was made
the week before the election； and the coach and saddle…horses were got
into order for the day； besides a vote fairly got by them oats； so no more
reasoning on that head。 But then there was no end to them that were
telling Sir Condy he had engaged to make their sons excisemen； or high
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constables； or the like； and as for them that had bills to give in for liquor；
and beds； and straw； and ribands； and horses； and post…chaises for the
gentlemen freeholders that came from all parts and other counties to vote
for my master； and were not； to be sure； to be at any charges； there was no
standing against all these； and； worse than all； the gentlemen of my
master's committee； who managed all for him； and talked how they'd bring
him in without costing him a penny； and subscribed by hundreds very
genteelly； forgot to pay their subscriptions； and had laid out in agents' and
lawyers' fees and secret service money to the Lord knows how much； and
my master could never ask one of them for their subscription you are
sensible； nor for the price of a fine horse he had sold one of them； so it all
was left at his door。 He could never； God bless him again！ I say； bring
himself to ask a gentleman for money； despising such sort of conversation
himself； but others； who were not gentlemen born； behaved very uncivil in
pressing him at this very time； and all he could do to content 'em all was to
take himself out of the way as fast as possible to Dublin； where my lady
had taken a house fitting for him as a member of Parliament； to attend his
duty in there all the winter。 I was very lonely when the whole family was
gone； and all the things they had ordered to go； and forgot； sent after them
by the car。 There was then a great silence in Castle Rackrent； and I went
moping from room to room； hearing the doors clap for want of right locks；
and the wind through the broken windows； that the glazier never would
come to mend； and the rain coming through the roof and best ceilings all
over the house for want of the slater； whose bill was not paid； besides our
having no slates or shingles for that part of the old building which was
shingled and burnt when the chimney took fire； and had been open to the
weather ever since。 I took myself to the servants' hall in the evening to
smoke my pipe as usual； but missed the bit of talk we used to have there
sadly； and ever after was content to stay in the kitchen and boil my little
potatoes； ＇MY LITTLE POTATOES。Thady does not mean by this
expression that his potatoes were less than other people's； or less than the
usual size。 LITTLE is here used only as an Italian diminutive； expressive
of fondness。＇ and put up my bed there； and every post…day I looked in the
newspaper； but no news of my master in the House； he never spoke good
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or bad； but； as the butler wrote down word to my son Jason； was very ill…
used by the Government about a place that was promised him and never
given； after his supporting them against his conscience very honourably；
and being greatly abused for it； which hurt him greatly； he having the
name of a great patriot in the country before。 The house and living in
Dublin too were not to be had for nothing； and my son Jason said； 'Sir
Condy must soon be looking out for a new agent； for I've done my part；
and can do no more。 If my lady had the bank of Ireland to spend； it
would go all in one winter； and Sir Condy would never gainsay her；
though he does not care the rind of a lemon for her all the while。'
Now I could not bear to hear Jason giving out after this manner against
the family； and twenty people standing by in the street。 Ever since he had
lived at the Lodge of his own he looked down； howsomever； upon poor
old Thady； and was grown quite a great gentleman； and had none of his
relations near him； no wonder he was no kinder to poor Sir Condy than to
his own kith or kin。 ＇KITH AND KIN： family or relations。 KIN from
KIND； KITH from we know not what。＇ In the spring it was the villain that
got the list of the debts from him brought down the custodiam； Sir Condy
still attending his duty in Parliament and I could scarcely believe my own
old eyes； or the spectacles with which I read it； when I was shown my son
Jason's name joined in the custodiam； but he told me it was only for form's
sake； and to make things easier than if all the land was under the power of
a total stranger。 Well； I did not know what to think； it was hard to be
talking ill of my own； and I could not but grieve for my poor master's fine
estate； all torn by these vultures of the law； so I said nothing； but just
looked on to see how it would all end。
It was not till the month of June that he and my lady came down to the
country。 My master was pleased to take me aside with him to the
brewhouse that same evening； to complain to me of my son and other
matters； in which he said he was confident I had neither art nor part； he
said a great deal more to me； to whom he had been fond to talk ever since
he was my white…headed boy before he came to the estate； and all that he
said about poor Judy I can never forget； but scorn to repeat。 He did not
say an unkind word of my lady； but wondered； as well he might； her
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relations would do nothing for him or her； and they in all this great distress。
He did not take anything long to heart； let it be as it would； and had no
more malice or thought of the like in him than a child that can't speak； this
night it was all out of his head before he went to his bed。 He took his jug
of whisky… punchmy lady was grown quite easy about the whisky…punch
by this time； and so I did suppose all was going on right betwixt them till I
learnt the truth through Mrs。 Jane； who talked over the affairs to the
housekeeper； and I within hearing。 The night my master came home；
thinking of nothing at all but just making merry； he drank his bumper toast
'to the deserts of that old curmudgeon my father…in…law； and all enemies at
Mount Juliet's Town。' Now my lady was no longer in the mind she
formerly was； and did noways relish hearing her own friends abused in her
presence； she said。
'Then why don't they show themselves your friends ' said my master；
'and oblige me with the loan of the money I condescended； by your advice；
my dear； to ask？ It's now three posts since I sent off my letter； desiring in
the postscript a speedy answer by the return of the post； and no account at
all from them yet。'
'I expect they'll write to ME next post；' says my lady； and that was all
that passed then； but it was easy from this to guess there was a coolness
betwixt them； and with good cause。
The next morning； being post…day； I sent off the gossoon early to
