castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第27节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
though she did not seem to be clear of it herselflittle likely to be my
Lady Rackrent now； should there be a second toss…up to be made。 But I
told him the whole story out of the face； just as Judy had told it to me； and
he sent off a messenger with his compliments to Mount Juliet's Town that
evening； to learn the truth of the report； and Judy bid the boy that was
going call in at Tim M'Enerney's shop in O'Shaughlin's Town and buy her
a new shawl。
'Do so；' Said Sir Condy； 'and tell Tim to take no money from you； for I
must pay him for the shawl myself。' At this my shister throws me over a
look； and I says nothing； but turned the tobacco in my mouth； whilst Judy
began making a many words about it； and saying how she could not be
beholden for shawls to any gentleman。 I left her there to consult with my
shister； did she think there was anything in it； and my shister thought I was
blind to be asking her the question； and I thought my shister must see
more into it than I did； and recollecting all past times and everything； I
changed my mind； and came over to her way of thinking； and we settled it
that Judy was very like to be my Lady Rackrent after all； if a vacancy
should have happened。
The next day； before his honour was up； somebody comes with a
double knock at the door； and I was greatly surprised to see it was my son
Jason。
'Jason； is it you？' said I； 'what brings you to the Lodge？' says I。 'Is it
my Lady Rackrent？ We know that already since yesterday。'
'Maybe so；' says he； 'but I must see Sir Condy about it。'
'You can't see him yet；' says I； 'sure he is not awake。'
'What then；' says he； 'can't he be wakened； and I standing at the door？'
85
… Page 86…
Castle Rackrent
'I'll not： be disturbing his honour for you； Jason；' says I； 'many's the
hour you've waited in your time； and been proud to do it； till his honour
was at leisure to speak to you。 His honour；' says I； raising my voice； at
which his honour wakens of his own accord； and calls to me from the
room to know who it was I was speaking to。 Jason made no more
ceremony； but follows me into the room。
'How are you； Sir Condy？' says he； 'I'm happy to see you looking so
well； I came up to know how you did to…day； and to see did you want for
anything at the Lodge；'
'Nothing at all； Mr。 Jason； I thank you；' says he； for his honour had his
own share of pride； and did not choose； after all that had passed； to be
beholden； I suppose； to my son； 'but pray take a chair and be seated； Mr。
Jason。'
Jason sat him down upon the chest； for chair there was none； and after
he had set there some time； and a silence on all sides。
'What news is there stirring in the country； Mr。 Jason M'Quirk？' says
Sir Condy； very easy； yet high like。
'None that's news to you； Sir Condy； I hear；' says Jason。 'I am sorry to
hear of my Lady Rackrent's accident。'
'I'm much obliged to you； and so is her ladyship； I'm sure；' answered
Sir Condy； still stiff； and there was another sort of a silence； which seemed
to lie the heaviest on my son Jason。
'Sir Condy；' says he at last； seeing Sir Condy disposing himself to go to
sleep again；'Sir Condy； I daresay you recollect mentioning to me the little
memorandum you gave to Lady Rackrent about the L500 a year jointure。'
'Very true；' said Sir Condy； 'it is all in my recollection。' 'But if my Lady
Rackrent dies； there's an end of all jointure；' says Jason。
'Of course；' says Sir Condy。
'But it's not a matter of certainty that my Lady Rackrent won't recover；'
says Jason。
'Very true； sir；' says my master。
'It's a fair speculation； then； for you to consider what the chance of the
jointure of those lands； when out of custodiam； will be to you。'
'Just five hundred a year； I take it； without any speculation at all；' said
86
… Page 87…
Castle Rackrent
Sir Condy。
'That's supposing the life dropt； and the custodiam off； you know；
begging your pardon； Sir Condy； who understands business； that is a
wrong calculation。'
'Very likely so；' said Sir Condy； 'but； Mr。 Jason； if you have anything
to say to me this morning about it； I'd be obliged to you to say it； for I had
an indifferent night's rest last night； and wouldn't be sorry to sleep a little
this morning。'
'I have only three words to say； and those more of consequence to you；
Sir Condy； than me。 You are a little cool； I observe； but I hope you will
not be offended at what I have brought here in my pocket；' and he pulls out
two long rolls； and showers down golden guineas upon the bed。
'What's this？' said Sir Condy； 'it's long since'but his pride stops him。
'All these are your lawful property this minute； Sir Condy； if you
please；' said Jason。
'Not for nothing； I'm sure；' said Sir Condy； and laughs a little。 'Nothing
for nothing； or I'm under a mistake with you； Jason。'
'Oh； Sir Condy； we'll not be indulging ourselves in any unpleasant
retrospects；' says Jason； 'it's my present intention to behave； as I'm sure
you will； like a gentleman in this affair。 Here's two hundred guineas； and a
third I mean to add if you should think proper to make over to me all your
right and title to those lands that you know of。'
'I'll consider of it；' said my master； and a great deal more； that I was
tired listening to； was said by Jason； and all that； and the sight of the ready
cash upon the bed； worked with his honour； and the short and the long of it
was； Sir Condy gathered up the golden guineas； and tied them up in a
handkerchief； and signed some paper Jason brought with him as usual； and
there was an end of the business： Jason took himself away； and my master
turned himself round and fell asleep again。
I soon found what had put Jason in such a hurry to conclude this
business。 The little gossoon we had sent off the day before with my
master's compliments to Mount Juliet's Town； and to know how my lady
did after her accident； was stopped early this morning； coming back with
his answer through O'Shaughlin's Town； at Castle Rackrent； by my son
87
… Page 88…
Castle Rackrent
Jason； and questioned of all he knew of my lady from the servant at Mount
Juliet's Town； and the gossoon told him my Lady Rackrent was not
expected to live over night； so Jason thought it high time to he moving to
the Lodge； to make his bargain with my master about the jointure afore it
should be too late； and afore the little gossoon should reach us with the
news。 My master was greatly vexedthat is； I may say； as much as ever I
seen him when he found how he had been taken in； but it was some
comfort to have the ready cash for immediate consumption in the house；
anyway。
And when Judy came up that evening； and brought the childer to see
his honour； he unties the handkerchief； andGod bless him！ whether it
was little or much he had； 'twas all the same with himhe gives 'em all
round guineas apiece。
'Hold up your head；' says my shister to Judy； as Sir Condy was busy
filling out a glass of punch for her eldest boy'Hold up your head； Judy；
for who knows but we may live to see you yet at the head of the Castle
Rackrent estate？'
'Maybe so；' says she； 'but not the way you are thinking of。'
I did not rightly understand which way Judy was looking when she
made this speech till a while after。
'Why； Thady； you were telling me yesterday that Sir Condy had sold
all entirely to Jason； and where then does all them guineas in the
handkerchief come from？'
'They are the purchase…money of my lady's jointure；' says I。
Judy looks a little bit puzzled at this。 'A penny for your thoughts； Judy；'
says my shister； 'hark； sure Sir Condy is drinking her health。'
He was at the table in the room ＇THE ROOMthe principal room in
the house＇； drinking with
