castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第16章
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but her diamond cross it's worth I can't tell you how much； and she has
thousands of English pounds concealed in diamonds about her； which she
as good as promised to give up to my master before he married； but now
she won't part with any of them； and she must take the consequences。'
Her honeymoon； at least her Irish honeymoon； was scarcely well over；
when his honour one morning said to me； 'Thady； buy me a pig！' and
then the sausages were ordered； and here was the first open breaking…out
of my lady's troubles。 My lady came down herself into the kitchen to
speak to the cook about the sausages； and desired never to see them more
at her table。 Now my master had ordered them； and my lady knew that。
The cook took my lady's part； because she never came down into the
kitchen； and was young and innocent in housekeeping； which raised her
pity； besides； said she； at her own table； surely my lady should order and
disorder what she pleases。 But the cook soon changed her note； for my
master made it a principle to have the sausages； and swore at her for a Jew
herself； till he drove her fairly out of the kitchen； then； for fear of her place；
and because he threatened that my lady should give her no discharge
without the sausages； she gave up； and from that day forward always
sausages； or bacon； or pig…meat in some shape or other； went up to table；
upon which my lady shut herself up in her own room； and my master said
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she might stay there； with an oath： and to make sure of her； he turned the
key in the door； and kept it ever after in his pocket。 We none of us ever
saw or heard her speak for seven years after that： he carried her dinner
himself。
＇This part of the history of the Rackrent family can scarcely be thought
credible； but in justice to honest Thady； it is hoped the reader will recollect
the history of the celebrated Lady Cathcart's conjugal imprisonment。 The
editor was acquainted with Colonel M'Guire； Lady Cathcart's husband； he
has lately seen and questioned the maid…servant who lived with Colonel
M'Guire during the time of Lady Cathcart's imprisonment。 Her ladyship
was locked up in her own house for many years； during which period her
husband was visited by the neighbouring gentry； and it was his regular
custom at dinner to send his compliments to Lady Cathcart； informing her
that the company had the honour to drink her ladyship's health； and
begging to know whether there was anything at table that she would like
to eat？ The answer was always； 'Lady Cathcart's compliments； and she
has everything she wants。' An instance of honesty in a poor Irishwoman
deserves to be recorded。 Lady Cathcart had some remarkably fine
diamonds； which she had concealed from her husband； and which she was
anxious to get out of the house； lest he should discover them。 She had
neither servant nor friend to whom she could entrust them； but she had
observed a poor beggar woman； who used to come to the house； she spoke
to her from the window of the room in which she was confined； the
woman promised to do what she desired； and Lady Cathcart threw a parcel
containing the jewels to her。 The poor woman carried them to the person
to whom they were directed； and several years afterwards； when Lady
Cathcart recovered her liberty； she received her diamonds safely。
At Colonel M'Guire's death her ladyship was released。 The editor；
within this year； saw the gentleman who accompanied her to England after
her husband's death。 When she first was told of his death she imagined
that the news was not true； and that it was told only with an intention of
deceiving her。 At his death she had scarcely clothes sufficient to cover
her； she wore a red wig； looked scared； and her understanding seemed
stupefied； she said that she scarcely knew one human creature from
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another； her imprisonment lasted above twenty years。 These
circumstances may appear strange to an English reader； but there is no
danger in the present times that any individual should exercise such
tyranny as Colonel M'Guire's with impunity； the power being now all in
the hands of Government； and there being no possibility of obtaining from
Parliament an Act of indemnity for any cruelties。＇
Then his honour had a great deal of company to dine with him； and
balls in the house； and was as gay and gallant； and as much himself as
before he was married； and at dinner he always drank my Lady Rackrent's
good health and so did the company； and he sent out always a servant with
his compliments to my Lady Rackrent； and the company was drinking her
ladyship's health； and begged to know if there was anything at table he
might send her； and the man came back； after the sham errand； with my
Lady Rackrent's compliments； and she was very much obliged to Sir Kit
she did not wish for anything； but drank the company's health。 The country；
to be sure； talked and wondered at my lady's being shut up； but nobody
chose to interfere or ask any impertinent questions； for they knew my
master was a man very apt to give a short answer himself； and likely to
call a man out for it afterwards： he was a famous shot； had killed his
man before he came of age； and nobody scarce dared look at him whilst at
Bath。 Sir Kit's character was so well known in the country that he lived in
peace and quietness ever after； and was a great favourite with the ladies；
especially when in process of time； in the fifth year of her confinement；
my Lady Rackrent fell ill and took entirely to her bed； and he gave out that
she was now skin and bone； and could not last through the winter。 In this
he had two physicians' opinions to back him （for now he called in two
physicians for her）； and tried all his arts to get the diamond cross from her
on her death…bed； and to get her to make a will in his favour of her
separate possessions； but there she was too tough for him。 He used to
swear at her behind her back after kneeling to her face； and call her in the
presence of his gentleman his stiff…necked Israelite； though before he
married her that same gentleman told me he used to call her （how he could
bring it out； I don't know） 'my pretty Jessica！' To be sure it must have
been hard for her to guess what sort of a husband he reckoned to make her。
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When she was lying； to all expectation； on her death…bed of a broken heart；
I could not but pity her； though she was a Jewish； and considering too it
was no fault of hers to be taken with my master； so young as she was at
the Bath； and so fine a gentleman as Sir Kit was when he courted her； and
considering too； after all they had heard and seen of him as a husband；
there were now no less than three ladi
