castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第22节
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betwixt them； and with good cause。
The next morning； being post…day； I sent off the gossoon early to the
post…office； to see was there any letter likely to set matters to rights； and he
brought back one with the proper post… mark upon it； sure enough； and I
had no time to examine or make any conjecture more about it； for into the
servants' hall pops Mrs。 Jane with a blue bandbox in her hand； quite
entirely mad。
'Dear ma'am； and what's the matter？' says I。
'Matter enough；' says she； 'don't you see my bandbox is wet through；
and my best bonnet here spoiled； besides my lady's； and all by the rain
coming in through that gallery window that you might have got mended if
you'd had any sense； Thady； all the time we were in town in the winter？'
'Sure； I could not get the glazier； ma'am；' says I。
'You might have stopped it up anyhow；' says she。
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'So I； did； ma'am； to the best of my ability； one of the panes with the
old pillow…case； and the other with a piece of the old stage green curtain。
Sure I was as careful as possible all the time you were away； and not a
drop of rain came in at that window of all the windows in the house； all
winter； ma'am； when under my care； and now the family's come home； and
it's summer…time； I never thought no more about it； to be sure； but dear； it's
a pity to think of your bonnet； ma'am。 But here's what will please you；
ma'ama letter from Mount Juliet's Town for my lady。
With that she snatches it from me without a word more； and runs up
the back stairs to my mistress； I follows with a slate to make up the
window。 This window was in the long passage； or gallery； as my lady
gave out orders to have it called； in the gallery leading to my master's
bedchamber and hers。 And when I went up with the slate； the door
having no lock； and the bolt spoilt； was ajar after Mrs。 Jane； and； as I was
busy with the window； I heard all that was saying within。
'Well； what's in your letter； Bella； my dear？' says he： 'you're a long
time spelling it over。'
'Won't you shave this morning； Sir Condy？' says she； and put the
letter into her pocket。
'I shaved the day before yesterday；' said he； 'my dear； and that's not
what I'm thinking of now； but anything to oblige you； and to have peace
and quietness； my dear'and presently I had a glimpse of him at the
cracked glass over the chimney…piece； standing up shaving himself to
please my lady。 But she took no notice； but went on reading her book；
and Mrs； Jane doing her hair behind。
'What is it you're reading there； my dear？phoo； I've cut myself with
this razor； the man's a cheat that sold it me； but I have not paid him for it
yet。 What is it you're reading there？ Did you hear me asking you； my
dear？'
'THE SORROWS OF WERTHER；' replies my lady； as well as I could
hear。
'I think more of the sorrows of Sir Condy；' says my master； joking like。
'What news from Mount Juliet's Town？'
'No news；' says she； 'but the old story over again； my friends all
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reproaching me still for what I can't help now。'
'Is it for marrying me？' said my master； still shaving。 'What signifies；
as you say； talking of that； when it can't be help'd now？'
With that she heaved a great sigh that I heard plain enough in the
passage。
'And did not you use me basely； Sir Condy；' says she； 'not to tell me
you were ruined before I married you？'
'Tell you； my dear！' said he。 'Did you ever ask me one word about it。
And had not your friends enough of your own； that were telling you
nothing else from morning to night； if you'd have listened to them
slanders？'
'No slanders； nor are my friends slanderers； and I can't bear to hear
them treated with disrespect as I do；' says my lady； and took out her
pocket…handkerchief； 'they are the best of friends； and if I had taken their
adviceBut my father was wrong to lock me up； I own。 That was the
only unkind thing I can charge him with； for if he had not locked me up； I
should never have had a serious thought of running away as I did。'
'Well； my dear；' said my master； 'don't cry and make yourself uneasy
about it now； when it's all over； and you have the man of your own choice；
in spite of 'em all。'
'I was too young； I know； to make a choice at the time you ran away
with me； I'm sure；' says my lady； and another sigh； which made my master；
half…shaved as he was； turn round upon her in surprise。
'Why； Bell；' says he； 'you can't deny what you know as well as I do；
that it was at your own particular desire； and that twice under your own
hand and seal expressed； that I should carry you off as I did to Scotland；
and marry you there。'
'Well； say no more about it； Sir Condy；' said my lady； pettish… like； 'I
was a child then； you know。'
'And as far as I know； you're little better now； my dear Bella； to be
talking in this manner to your husband's face； but I won't take it ill of you；
for I know it's something in that letter you put into your pocket just now
that has set you against me all on a sudden； and imposed upon your
understanding。'
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'It's not so very easy as you think it； Sir Condy； to impose upon my
understanding；' said my lady。
'My dear；' says he； 'I have； and with reason； the best opinion of your
understanding of any man now breathing； and you know I have never set
my own in competition with it till now； my dear Bella；' says he； taking her
hand from her book as kind as could be'till now； when I have the great
advantage of being quite cool； and you not； so don't believe one word your
friends say against your own Sir Condy； and lend me the letter out of your
pocket； till I see what it is they can have to say。'
'Take it then；' says she； 'and as you are quite cool； I hope it is a proper
time to request you'll allow me to comply with the wishes of all my own
friends； and return to live with my father and family； during the remainder
of my wretched existence； at Mount Juliet's Town。'
At this my poor master fell back a few paces； like one that had been
shot。
'You're not serious； Bella；' says he； 'and could you find it in your heart
to leave me this way in the very middle of my distresses； all alone' But
recollecting himself after his first surprise； and a moment's time for
reflection； he said； with a great deal of consideration for my lady； 'Well；
Bella； my dear； I believe you are right； for what could you do at Castle
Rackrent； and an execution against the goods coming down； and the
furniture to be canted； and an auction in the house all next week？ So you
have my full consent to go； since that is your desire； only you must not
think of my accompanying you； which I could not in honour do upon the
terms I always have been； since our marriage； with your friends。 Besides；
I have business to transact at home； so in the meantime； if we are to have
any breakfast this morning； let us go down and have it for the last time in
peace and comfort； Bella。'
Then as I heard my master coming to the passage door； I finished
fastening up my slate against the broken pane； and when he came out I
wiped down the window…seat with my wig； I and bade him a 'good…
morrow' as kindly as I could； seeing he was in trouble； though he strove
and thought to hide it from me。
＇Wigs were formerly used instead of brooms in Ireland for sweeping or
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dusting tables； stairs； etc。 The Editor doubted the fact till he saw a labourer
of the old school sweep down a flight of stairs with his wig； he afterwards
put it on his head again with the utmost c
