castle rackrent-第19章
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astle Rackrent itself。 But this is a part of my story I'm not come to yet； and it's bad to be forestalling： ill news flies fast enough all the world over。
To go back to the day of the election； which I never think of but with pleasure and tears of gratitude for those good times： after the election was quite and clean over； there comes shoals of people from all parts； claiming to have obliged my master with their votes； and putting him in mind of promises which he could never remember himself to have made： one was to have a freehold for each of his four sons； another was to have a renewal of a lease； another an abatement； one came to be paid ten guineas for a pair of silver buckles sold my master on the hustings； which turned out to be no better than copper gilt； another had a long bill for oats； the half of which never went into the granary to my certain knowledge； and the other half was not fit for the cattle to touch； but the bargain was made the week before the election； and the coach and saddle…horses were got into order for the day； besides a vote fairly got by them oats； so no more reasoning on that head。 But then there was no end to them that were telling Sir Condy he had engaged to make their sons excisemen； or high constables； or the like； and as for them that had bills to give in for liquor； and beds； and straw； and ribands； and horses； and post…chaises for the gentlemen freeholders that came from all parts and other counties to vote for my master； and were not； to be sure； to be at any charges； there was no standing against all these； and； worse than all； the gentlemen of my master's committee； who managed all for him； and talked how they'd bring him in without costing him a penny； and subscribed by hundreds very genteelly； forgot to pay their subscriptions； and had laid out in agents' and lawyers' fees and secret service money to the Lord knows how much； and my master could never ask one of them for their subscription you are sensible； nor for the price of a fine horse he had sold one of them； so it all was left at his door。 He could never； God bless him again！ I say； bring himself to ask a gentleman for money； despising such sort of conversation himself； but others； who were not gentlemen born； behaved very uncivil in pressing him at this very time； and all he could do to content 'em all was to take himself out of the way as fast as possible to Dublin； where my lady had taken a house fitting for him as a member of Parliament； to attend his duty in there all the winter。 I was very lonely when the whole family was gone； and all the things they had ordered to go； and forgot； sent after them by the car。 There was then a great silence in Castle Rackrent； and I went moping from room to room； hearing the doors clap for want of right locks； and the wind through the broken windows； that the glazier never would come to mend； and the rain coming through the roof and best ceilings all over the house for want of the slater； whose bill was not paid； besides our having no slates or shingles for that part of the old building which was shingled and burnt when the chimney took fire； and had been open to the weather ever since。 I took myself to the servants' hall in the evening to smoke my pipe as usual； but missed the bit of talk we used to have there sadly； and ever after was content to stay in the kitchen and boil my little potatoes； ＇MY LITTLE POTATOES。Thady does not mean by this expression that his potatoes were less than other people's； or less than the usual size。 LITTLE is here used only as an Italian diminutive； expressive of fondness。＇ and put up my bed there； and every post…day I looked in the newspaper； but no news of my master in the House； he never spoke good or bad； but； as the butler wrote down word to my son Jason； was very ill…used by the Government about a place that was promised him and never given； after his supporting them against his conscience very honourably； and being greatly abused for it； which hurt him greatly； he having the name of a great patriot in the country before。 The house and living in Dublin too were not to be had for nothing； and my son Jason said； 'Sir Condy must soon be looking out for a new agent； for I've done my part； and can do no more。 If my lady had the bank of Ireland to spend； it would go all in one winter； and Sir Condy would never gainsay her； though he does not care the rind of a lemon for her all the while。'
Now I could not bear to hear Jason giving out after this manner against the family； and twenty people standing by in the street。 Ever since he had lived at the Lodge of his own he looked down； howsomever； upon poor old Thady； and was grown quite a great gentleman； and had none of his relations near him； no wonder he was no kinder to poor Sir Condy than to his own kith or kin。 ＇KITH AND KIN： family or relations。 KIN from KIND； KITH from we know not what。＇ In the spring it was the villain that got the list of the debts from him brought down the custodiam； Sir Condy still attending his duty in Parliament and I could scarcely believe my own old eyes； or the spectacles with which I read it； when I was shown my son Jason's name joined in the custodiam； but he told me it was only for form's sake； and to make things easier than if all the land was under the power of a total stranger。 Well； I did not know what to think； it was hard to be talking ill of my own； and I could not but grieve for my poor master's fine estate； all torn by these vultures of the law； so I said nothing； but just looked on to see how it would all end。
It was not till the month of June that he and my lady came down to the country。 My master was pleased to take me aside with him to the brewhouse that same evening； to complain to me of my son and other matters； in which he said he was confident I had neither art nor part； he said a great deal more to me； to whom he had been fond to talk ever since he was my white…headed boy before he came to the estate； and all that he said about poor Judy I can never forget； but scorn to repeat。 He did not say an unkind word of my lady； but wondered； as well he might； her relations would do nothing for him or her； and they in all this great distress。 He did not take anything long to heart； let it be as it would； and had no more malice or thought of the like in him than a child that can't speak； this night it was all out of his head before he went to his bed。 He took his jug of whisky… punchmy lady was grown quite easy about the whisky…punch by this time； and so I did suppose all was going on right betwixt them till I learnt the truth through Mrs。 Jane； who talked over the affairs to the housekeeper； and I within hearing。 The night my master came home； thinking of nothing at all but just making merry； he drank his bumper toast 'to the deserts of that old curmudgeon my father…in…law； and all enemies at Mount Juliet's Town。' Now my lady was no longer in the mind she formerly was； and did noways relish hearing her own friends abused in her presence； she said。
'Then why don't they show themselves your friends ' said my master； 'and oblige me with the loan of the money I condescended； by your advice； my dear； to ask？ It's now three posts since I sent off my letter； desiring in the postscript a speedy answer by the return of the post； and no account at all from them yet。'
'I expect they'll write to ME next post；' says my lady； and that was all that passed then； but it was easy from this to guess there was a coolness 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？'
'Su
