castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第25节
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who brought in the punch witnessed it； for I was not able； but crying like a
child； and besides； Jason said； which I was glad of； that I was no fit
witness； being so old and doting。 It was so bad with me； I could not taste a
drop of the punch itself； though my master himself； God bless him！ in
the midst of his trouble； poured out a glass for me； and brought it up to my
lips。
'Not a drop； I thank your honour's honour as much as if I took it；
though。' And I just set down the glass as it was； and went out； and when
I got to the street door the neighbours' childer； who were playing at
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marbles there； seeing me in great trouble； left their play； and gathered
about me to know what ailed me； and I told them all； for it was a great
relief to me to speak to these poor childer； that seemed to have some
natural feeling left in them； and when they were made sensible that Sir
Condy was going to leave Castle Rackrent for good and all； they set up a
whillaluh that could be heard to the farthest end of the street； and onefine
boy he wasthat my master had given an apple to that morning； cried the
loudest； but they all were the same sorry； for Sir Condy was greatly
beloved amongst the childer； for letting them go a…nutting in the demesne；
without saying a word to them； though my lady objected to them。 The
people in the town； who were the most of them standing at their doors；
hearing the childer cry； would know the reason of it； and when the report
was made known； the people one and all gathered in great anger against
my son Jason； and terror at the notion of his coming to be landlord over
them； and they cried； 'No Jason！ no Jason！ Sir Condy！ Sir Condy！
Sir Condy Rackrent for ever！' And the mob grew so great and so loud； I
was frightened； and made my way back to the house to warn my son to
make his escape； or hide himself for fear of the consequences。 Jason
would not believe me till they came all round the house； and to the
windows with great shouts。 Then he grew quite pale； and asked Sir
Condy what had he best do？
'I'll tell you what you had best do；' said Sir Condy； who was laughing
to see his fright； 'finish your glass first； then let's go to the window and
show ourselves； and I'll tell 'emor you shall； if you pleasethat I'm going
to the Lodge for change of air for my health； and by my own desire； for
the rest of my days。'
'Do so；' said Jason； who never meant it should have been so but could
not refuse him the Lodge at this unseasonable time： Accordingly； Sir
Condy threw up the sash and explained matters； and thanked all his friends；
and bid them look in at the punch… bowl； and observe that Jason and he
had been sitting over it very good friends； so the mob was content； and he
sent them out some whisky to drink his health； and that was the last time
his honour's health was ever drunk at Castle Rackrent。
The very next day； being too proud； as he said to me； to stay an hour
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longer in a house that did not belong to him； he sets off to the Lodge； and I
along with him not many hours after。 And there was great bemoaning
through all O'Shaughlin's Town； which I stayed to witness； and gave my
poor master a full account of when I got to the Lodge。 He was very low；
and in his bed； when I got there； and complained of a great pain about his
heart； but I guessed it was only trouble and all the business； let alone
vexation； he had gone through of late； and knowing the nature of him from
a boy； I took my pipe； and whilst smoking it by the chimney began telling
him how he was beloved and regretted in the county； and it did him a deal
of good to hear it。
'Your honour has a great many friends yet that you don't know of； rich
and poor； in the county；' says I； 'for as I was coming along the road I met
two gentlemen in their own carriages； who asked after you； knowing me；
and wanted to know where you was and all about you； and even how old I
was。 Think of that。'
Then he wakened out of his doze； and began questioning me who the
gentlemen were。 And the next morning it came into my head to go；
unknown to anybody； with my master's compliments； round to many of the
gentlemen's houses； where he and my lady used to visit； and people that I
knew were his great friends； and would go to Cork to serve him any day in
the year； and I made bold to try to borrow a trifle of cash from them。
They all treated me very civil for the most part； and asked a great many
questions very kind about my lady and Sir Condy and all the family； and
were greatly surprised to learn from me Castle Rackrent was sold； and my
master at the Lodge for health； and they all pitied him greatly； and he had
their good wishes； if that would do； but money was a thing they
unfortunately had not any of them at this time to spare。 I had my journey
for my pains； and I； not used to （walking； nor supple as formerly； was
greatly tired； but had the satisfaction of telling my master； when I got to
the Lodge； all the civil things said by high and low。
'Thady；' says he； 'all you've been telling me brings a strange thought
into my head。 I've a notion I shall not be long for this world anyhow； and
I've a great fancy to see my own funeral afore I die。' I was greatly
shocked； at the first speaking； to hear him speak so light about his funeral；
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and he to all appearance in good health； but recollecting myself； answered：
'To be sure it would be as fine a sight as one could see； I dared to say；
and one I should be proud to witness； and I did not doubt his honour's
would be as great a funeral as ever Sir Patrick O'Shaughlin's was； and such
a one as that had never been known in the county afore or since。' But I
never thought he was in earnest about seeing his own funeral himself till
the next day he returns to it again。
'Thady；' says he； 'as far as the wake goes； sure I might without any
great trouble have the satisfaction of seeing a bit of my own funeral。' ＇A
'wake' in England is a meeting avowedly for merriment； in Ireland it is a
nocturnal meeting avowedly for the purpose of watching and bewailing
the dead； but in reality for gossiping and debauchery。 ＇See GLOSSARY
28＇＇
'Well； since your honour's honour's SO bent upon it；' says I； not willing
to cross him； and he in trouble； 'we must see what we can do。'
So he fell into a sort of sham disorder； which was easy done； as he
kept his bed； and no one to see him； and I got my shister； who was an old
woman very handy about the sick； and very skilful； to come up to the
Lodge to nurse him； and we gave out； she knowing no better； that he was
just at his latter end； and it answered beyond anything； and there was a
great throng of people； men； women； and childer； and there being only two
rooms at the Lodge； except what was locked up full of Jason's furniture
and things； the house was soon as full and fuller than it could hold； and the
heat； and smoke； and noise wonderful great； and standing amongst them
that were near the bed； but not thinking at all of the dead； I was startled by
the sound of my master's voice from under the greatcoats that had been
thrown all at top； and I went close up； no one noticing。
'Thady；' says he； 'I've had enough of this； I'm smothering； and can't
hear a word of all they're saying of the deceased。'
'God bless you； and lie still and quiet；' says I； 'a bit longer； for my
shister's afraid of ghosts； and would die on the spot with fright was she to
see you come to life all on a sudden this way without the least
preparation。'
So he lays him
