castle rackrent-第20节

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tenances　of　Castle　Rackrent？'

'Oh；　murder！'　　says　I；　clapping　my　hands；　'this　is　too　bad；　Jason。'

'Why　so？'　　said　Jason。　　'When　it's　all；　and　a　great　deal　more　to　the　back　of　it；　lawfully　mine；　was　I　to　push　for　it。'

'Look　at　him；'　says　I；　pointing　to　Sir　Condy；　who　was　just　leaning　back　in　his　arm…chair；　with　his　arms　falling　beside　him　like　one　stupefied；　'is　it　you；　Jason；　that　can　stand　in　his　presence；　and　recollect　all　he　has　been　to　us；　and　all　we　have　been　to　him；　and　yet　use　him　so　at　the　last？'

'Who　will　you　find　to　use　him　better；　I　ask　you？'　　said　Jason；　'if　he　can　get　a　better　purchaser；　I'm　content；　I　only　offer　to　purchase；　to　make　things　easy；　and　oblige　him；　though　I　don't　see　what　compliment　I　am　under；　if　you　come　to　that。　　I　have　never　had；　asked；　or　charged　more　than　sixpence　in　the　pound；　receiver's　fees；　and　where　would　he　have　got　an　agent　for　a　penny　less？'

'Oh；　Jason！　　Jason！　　how　will　you　stand　to　this　in　the　face　of　the　county；　and　all　who　know　you？'　says　I；　'and　what　will　people　think　and　say　when　they　see　you　living　here　in　Castle　Rackrent；　and　the　lawful　owner　turned　out　of　the　seat　of　his　ancestors；　without　a　cabin　to　put　his　head　into；　or　so　much　as　a　potato　to　eat？'

Jason；　whilst　I　was　saying　this；　and　a　great　deal　more；　made　me　signs；　and　winks；　and　frowns；　but　I　took　no　heed；　for　I　was　grieved　and　sick　at　heart　for　my　poor　master；　and　couldn't　but　speak。

'Here's　the　punch；'　says　Jason；　for　the　door　opened；　'here's　the　punch！'

Hearing　that；　my　master　starts　up　in　his　chair；　and　recollects　himself；　and　Jason　uncorks　the　whisky。

'Set　down　the　jug　here；'　says　he；　making　room　for　it　beside　the　papers　opposite　to　Sir　Condy；　but　still　not　stirring　the　deed　that　was　to　make　over　all。

Well；　I　was　in　great　hopes　he　had　some　touch　of　mercy　about　him　when　I　saw　him　making　the　punch；　and　my　master　took　a　glass；　but　Jason　put　it　back　as　he　was　going　to　fill　again；　saying：　　'No；　Sir　Condy；　it　shan't　be　said　of　me　I　got　your　signature　to　this　deed　when　you　were　half…seas　over：　you　know　your　name　and　handwriting　in　that　condition　would　not；　if　brought　before　the　courts；　benefit　me　a　straw；　wherefore；　let　us　settle　all　before　we　go　deeper　into　the　punch…bowl。'

'Settle　all　as　you　will；'　said　Sir　Condy；　clapping　his　hands　to　his　ears；　'but　let　me　hear　no　more。　　I'm　bothered　to　death　this　night。'

'You've　only　to　sign；'　said　Jason；　putting　the　pen　to　him。

'Take　all；　and　be　content；'　said　my　master。　　So　he　signed；　and　the　man　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　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　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；　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　hou