castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第3节
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Monaghans and Gerahtys； such as we find again in Miss Edgeworth's
novels。 We heard the local politics discussed over the counter with a
certain aptness and directness which struck me very much。 We passed
the boarding…house； which was not without its historya long low building
erected by Mr。 and Miss Edgeworth for a school； where the Sandfords and
Mertons of those days were to be brought up together： a sort of
foreshadowing of the High Schools of the present。 Mr。 Edgeworth was；
as we know； the very spirit of progress； though his experiment did not
answer at the time。 At the end of the village street； where two roads
divide； we noticed a gap in the decent roadwaya pile of ruins in a garden。
A tumble…down cottage； and beyond the cottage； a falling shed； on the
thatched roof of which a hen was clucking and scraping。 These cottages
Mr。 Edgeworth had； after long difficulty； bought up and condemned as
unfit for human habitation。 The plans had been considered； the orders
given to build new cottages in their place； which were to be let to the old
tenants at the old rent； but the last remaining inhabitant absolutely refused
to leave； we saw an old woman in a hood slowly crossing the road； and
carrying a pail for water； no threats or inducements would move her； not
even the sight of a neat little house； white…washed and painted； and all
ready for her to step into。 Her present rent was 10d。 a week； Mr。
Edgeworth told me； and she had been letting the tumble… down shed to a
large family for 1s。 4d。 This sub…let was forcibly put an end to； but the
landlady still stops there； and there she will stay until the roof tumbles
down upon her head。 The old creature passed on through the sunshine； a
decrepit； picturesque figure carrying her pail to the stream； defying all the
laws of progress and political economy and civilisation in her feebleness
and determination。
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Most of the women came to their doors to see us go by。 They all
looked as old as the hillssome dropt curtseys； others threw up their arms
in benediction。 From a cottage farther up the road issued a strange； shy
old creature； looking like a bundle of hay； walking on bare legs。 She
came up with a pinch of snuff； and a shake of the hand； she was of the
family of the man who had once saved Edgeworthstown from being
destroyed by the rebels。 'Sure it was not her father；' said old Peggy；' it
was her grandfather did it！' So she explained； but it was hard to believe
that such an old； old creature had ever had a grandfather in the memory of
man。
The glebe lands lie beyond the village。 They reach as far as the
church on its high plateau； from which you can see the Wicklow Hills on a
fine day； and the lovely shifting of the lights of the landscape。 The
remains of the great pew of the Edgeworth family； with its carved canopy
of wood； is still a feature in the bare church from which so much has been
swept away。 The names of the fathers are written on the chancel walls；
and a few medallions of daughters and sisters also。 In the churchyard；
among green elder bushes and tall upspringing grasses； is the square
monument erected to Mr。 Edgeworth and his family； and as we stood there
the quiet place was crossed and recrossed by swallows with their beating
crescent wings。
III
Whatever one may think of Mr。 Edgeworth's literary manipulations
and of his influence upon his daughter's writings； one cannot but respect
the sincere and cordial understanding which bound these two people
together； and realise the added interest in life； in its machinery and
evolutions； which Maria owed to her father's active intelligence。 Her
own gift； I think； must have been one for perceiving through the minds of
others； and for realising the value of what they in turn reflected； one is
struck again and again by the odd mixture of intuition； and of absolute
matter of fact which one finds in her writings。
It is difficult to realise； when one reads the memoirs of human beings
who loved and hated； and laughed and scolded； and wanted things and did
without them； very much as we do ourselves； that though they thought as
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we do and felt as we do （only； as I have said； with greater vehemence）；
they didn't LOOK like us at all； and Mr。 Edgeworth； the father of Maria
Edgeworth； the 'gay gallant；' the impetuous； ingenious； energetic
gentleman； sat writing with powdered hair and a queue； with tights and
buckles； bolt upright in a stiff chair； while his family； also bequeued and
becurled and bekerchiefed； were gathered round him in a group；
composedly attentive to his explanations； as he points to the roll upon the
table； or reads from his many MSS。 and note… books； for their edification。
To have four wives and twenty…two children； to have invented so many
machines； engines； and curricles； steeples and telegraph posts； is more
than commonly falls to the lot of one ordinary man； but such we know was
Mr。 Edgeworth's history told by his own lips。
I received by chance an old newspaper the other day； dated the 23rd
July 1779。 It is called the LONDON PACKET； and its news； told with
long s's and pretty curly italics； thrills one even now as one looks over the
four short pages。 The leading article is entitled 'Striking Instance of the
PERFIDY of France。' It is true the grievance goes back to Louis XIV。；
but the leader is written with plenty of spirit and present indignation。
Then comes news from America and the lists of New Councillors elected：
'Artemus Ward； Francis Dana； Oliver Prescott； Samuel Baker； while a
very suitable sermon on the occasion is preached by the Rev。 Mr。 Stillman
of Boston。' How familiar the names all sound！ Then the thanks of the
Members of Congress are given to 'General Lee； Colonel Moultrie； and the
officers and soldiers under their command who on the 28th of June last
Repulsed with so much Valour the attack that was made that day on the
State of South Carolina by the fleet and army of his Britannic Majesty。'
There is an irresistible spirit of old…world pigtail decorum and dash
about it all。 We read of our 'grand fleet' waiting at Corunna for the
Spanish； of 80；000 men on the coast of Brittany supposed to be ready for
an invasion of England； of the Prince of Conde playing at cards； with
Northumberland House itself for stakes （Northumberland House which he
is INTENDING to take）。 We read the list of Lottery Prizes； of the L1000
and L500 tickets； of the pressing want of seamen for His Majesty's Navy；
and how the gentlemen of Ireland are subscribers to a bounty fund。 Then
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comes the narrative of James Caton of Bristol； who writes to complain that
while transacting his business on the Bristol Exchange he is violently
seized by a pressgang； with oaths and imprecations。 Mr。 Farr； attempting
to speak to him； is told by the Lieutenant that if he does not keep off he
will be shot with a pistol。 Mr。 Caton is violently carried off； locked up in
a horrible stinking room； prevented from seeing his friends； after a day or
two he is forced on board a tender； where Mr。 Tripp； a midshipman；
behaves with humanity； but the Captain and Lieutenant outvie each other
in brutality； Captain Hamilton behaving as an 'enraged partisan。' Poor
Mr。 Caton is released at last by the exertions of Mr。 Edmund Burke； of Mr。
Farr； and another devoted friend； who
