castle rackrent-第12章

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＇HER　MARK。It　was　the　custom　in　Ireland　for　those　who　could　not　write　to　make　a　cross　to　stand　for　their　signature；　as　was　formerly　the　practice　of　our　English　monarchs。　The　Editor　inserts　the　facsimile　of　an　Irish　mark；　which　may　hereafter　be　valuable　to　a　judicious　antiquary　　　　　Her　Judy　X　M'Quirk；　　　　Mark。　In　bonds　or　notes　signed　in　this　manner　a　witness　is　requisite；　as　the　name　is　frequently　written　by　him　or　her。＇

God　bless　him！　　his　hand　was　a　little　unsteadied　by　all　the　whisky…punch　he　had　taken；　but　it　was　plain　to　see　his　heart　was　for　poor　Judy。　　My　heart　was　all　as　one　as　in　my　mouth　when　I　saw　the　halfpenny　up　in　the　air；　but　I　said　nothing　at　all；　and　when　it　came　down　I　was　glad　I　had　kept　myself　to　myself；　for　to　be　sure　now　it　was　all　over　with　poor　Judy。

'Judy's　out　a　luck；'　said　I；　striving　to　laugh。

'I'm　out　a　luck；'　said　he；　and　I　never　saw　a　man　look　so　cast　down：　　he　took　up　the　halfpenny　off　the　flag；　and　walked　away　quite　sober…like　by　the　shock。　　Now；　though　as　easy　a　man；　you　would　think；　as　any　in　the　wide　world；　there　was　no　such　thing　as　making　him　unsay　one　of　these　sort　of　vows；　which　he　had　learned　to　reverence　when　young；　as　I　well　remember　teaching　him　to　toss　up　for　bog…berries　on　my　knee。　＇VOWS。It　has　been　maliciously　and　unjustly　hinted　that　the　lower　classes　of　the　people　of　Ireland　pay　but　little　regard　to　oaths；　yet　it　is　certain　that　some　oaths　or　vows　have　great　power　over　their　minds。　　Sometimes　they　swear　they　will　be　revenged　on　some　of　their　neighbours；　this　is　an　oath　that　they　are　never　known　to　break。　　But；　what　is　infinitely　more　extraordinary　and　unaccountable；　they　sometimes　make　and　keep　a　vow　against　whisky；　these　vows　are　usually　limited　to　a　short　time。　　A　woman　who　has　a　drunken　husband　is　most　fortunate　if　she　can　prevail　upon　him　to　go　to　the　priest；　and　make　a　vow　against　whisky　for　a　year；　or　a　month；　or　a　week；　or　a　day。＇　　So　I　saw　the　affair　was　as　good　as　settled　between　him　and　Miss　Isabella；　and　I　had　no　more　to　say　but　to　wish　her　joy；　which　I　did　the　week　afterwards；　upon　her　return　from　Scotland　with　my　poor　master。

My　new　lady　was　young；　as　might　be　supposed　of　a　lady　that　had　been　carried　off　by　her　own　consent　to　Scotland；　but　I　could　only　see　her　at　first　through　her　veil；　which；　from　bashfulness　or　fashion；　she　kept　over　her　face。

'And　am　I　to　walk　through　all　this　crowd　of　people；　my　dearest　love？'　　said　she　to　Sir　Condy；　meaning　us　servants　and　tenants；　who　had　gathered　at　the　back　gate。

'My　dear；'　said　Sir　Condy；　'there's　nothing　for　it　but　to　walk；　or　to　let　me　carry　you　as　far　as　the　house；　for　you　see　the　back　road　is　too　narrow　for　a　carriage；　and　the　great　piers　have　tumbled　down　across　the　front　approach；　so　there's　no　driving　the　right　way；　by　reason　of　the　ruins。'

'Plato；　thou　reasonest　well！'　said　she；　or　words　to　that　effect；　which　I　could　noways　understand；　and　again；　when　her　foot　stumbled　against　a　broken　bit　of　a　car…wheel；　she　cried　out；　'Angels　and　ministers　of　grace　defend　us！'　　Well；　thought　I；　to　be　sure；　if　she's　no　Jewish；　like　the　last；　she　is　a　mad　woman　for　certain；　which　is　as　bad：　　it　would　have　been　as　well　for　my　poor　master　to　have　taken　up　with　poor　Judy；　who　is　in　her　right　mind　anyhow。

She　was　dressed　like　a　mad　woman；　moreover；　more　than　like　any　one　I　ever　saw　afore　or　since；　and　I　could　not　take　my　eyes　off　her；　but　still　followed　behind　her；　and　her　feathers　on　the　top　of　her　hat　were　broke　going　in　at　the　low　back　door　and　she　pulled　out　her　little　bottle　out　of　her　pocket　to　smell　when　she　found　herself　in　the　kitchen；　and　said；　'I　shall　faint　with　the　heat　of　this　odious；　odious　place。'

'My　dear；　it's　only　three　steps　across　the　kitchen；　and　there's　a　fine　air　if　your　veil　was　up；'　said　Sir　Condy；　and　with　that　threw　back　her　veil；　so　that　I　had　then　a　full　sight　of　her　face。　She　had　not　at　all　the　colour　of　one　going　to　faint；　but　a　fine　complexion　of　her　own；　as　I　then　took　it　to　be；　though　her　maid　told　me　after　it　was　all　put　on；　but　even；　complexion　and　all　taken　in；　she　was　no　way；　in　point　of　good　looks；　to　compare　to　poor　Judy；　and　withal　she　had　a　quality　toss　with　her；　but　maybe　it　was　my　over…partiality　to　Judy；　into　whose　place　I　may　say　she　stepped；　that　made　me　notice　all　this。

To　do　her　justice；　however；　she　was；　when　we　came　to　know　her　better；　very　liberal　in　her　housekeepingnothing　at　all　of　the　skinflint　in　her；　she　left　everything　to　the　housekeeper；　and　her　own　maid；　Mrs。　Jane；　who　went　with　her　to　Scotland；　gave　her　the　best　of　characters　for　generosity。　　She　seldom　or　ever　wore　a　thing　twice　the　same　way；　Mrs。　Jane　told　us；　and　was　always　pulling　her　things　to　pieces　and　giving　them　away；　never　being　used；　in　her　father's　house；　to　think　of　expense　in　anything；　and　she　reckoned　to　be　sure　to　go　on　the　same　way　at　Castle　Rackrent；　but　when　I　came　to　inquire；　I　learned　that　her　father　was　so　mad　with　her　for　running　off；　after　his　locking　her　up　and　forbidding　her　to　think　any　more　of　Sir　Condy；　that　he　would　not　give　her　a　farthing；　and　it　was　lucky　for　her　she　had　a　few　thousands　of　her　own；　which　had　been　left　to　her　by　a　good　grandmother；　and　these　were　very　convenient　to　begin　with。　　My　master　and　my　lady　set　out　in　great　style；　they　had　the　finest　coach　and　chariot；　and　horses　and　liveries；　and　cut　the　greatest　dash　in　the　county；　returning　their　wedding　visits；　and　it　was　immediately　reported　that　her　father　had　undertaken　to　pay　all　my　master's　debts；　and　of　course　all　his　tradesmen　gave　him　a　new　credit；　and　everything　went　on　smack　smooth；　and　I　could　not　but　admire　my　lady's　spirit；　and　was　proud　to　see　Castle　Rackrent　again　in　all　its　glory。　　My　lady　had　a　fine　taste　for　building；　and　furniture；　and　playhouses；　and　she　turned　everything　topsy…turvy；　and　made　the　barrack…room　into　a　theatre；　as　she　called　it；　and　she　went　on　as　if　she　had　a　mint　of　money　at　her　elbow；　and　to　be　sure　I　thought　she　knew　best；　especially　as　Sir　Condy　said　nothing　to　it　one　way　or　the　other。　　All　he　askedGod　bless　him！was　to　live　in　peace　and　quietness；　and　have　his　bottle　or　his　whisky…punch　at　night　to　himself。　　Now　this　was　little　enough；　to　be　sure；　for　any　gentleman；　but　my　lady　couldn't　abide　the　smell　of　the　whisky…　punch。

'My　dear；'　says　he；　'you　liked　it　well　enough　before　we　were　married；　and　why　not　now？'

'My　dear；'　said　she；　'I　never　smelt　it；　or　I　assure　you　I　should　never　have　prevailed　upon　myself　to　marry　you。'

'My　dear；　I　am　sorry　you　did　not　smell　it；　but　we　can't　help　that　now；'　returned　my　master；　without　putting　himself　in　a　passion；　or　going　out　of　his　way；　but　just　fair　and　easy　helped　himself　to　another　glass；　and　drank　it　off　to　her　good　health。

All　this　the　butler　told　me；　who　was　going　backwards　and　forwards　unnoticed　with　the　jug；　and　hot　water；　and　sugar；　and　all　he　thought　wanting。　　Upon　my　master's　swallowing　the　last　glass　of　whisky…punch　my　lady　burst　into　tears；　calling　him　an　ungrateful；　base；　barbarous　wretch；　and　went　off　into　a　fit　of　hysterics；　as　I　think　Mrs。　Jane　called　it；　and　my　poor　master　was　greatly　frightened；　this　being　the　first　thing　of　the　kind　he　had　seen；　and　he　fell　straight　on　his　knees　before　her；　and；　like　a　good…　hearted　cratur　as　he　was；　ordered　the　whisky…punch　out　of　the　room；　and　bid　'em　throw　open　all　the　windows；　and　cursed　himself：　and　then　my　lady　came　to　herself　again；　and　when　she　saw　him　kneeling　there；　bid　him　get　up；　and　not　forswear　himself　any　more；　for　that　she　was　sure　he　did　not　love　her；　and　never　had。　This　we　learned　from　Mrs。　Jane；　who　was　the　only　person　left　present　at　all　this。

'My　dear；'　returns　my　master；　thinking；　to　be　sure；　of　Judy；　as　well　he　might；　'whoever　told　you　so　is　an　incendiary；　and　I'll　have　'em　turned　out　of　the　house　this　minute；　if　you'll　only　let　me　know　which　of　them　it　was。'

'Told　me　what？'　said　my　lady；　starting　upright　in　her　chair。

'Nothing　at　all；　nothing　at　all；'　said　my　master；　seeing　he　had　overshot　himself；　and　that　my　lady　spoke　at　random；　'but　what　you　said　just　now；　that　I　did　not　love　you；　Bella；　who　told　you　that？'

'My　own　sense；'　she　said；　and　she　put　her　handkerchief　to　her　face；　and　leant　back　upon　Mrs。　Jane；　and　fell　to　sobbing　as　if　her　heart　would　break。

'Why　now；　Bella；　this　is　very　strange　of　you；'　said　my　poor　master；　'if　nobody　has　told　you　nothing；　what　is　it　you　are　taking　on　for　at　this　rate；　and　exposing　yourself　and　me　for　this　way？'

'Oh；　say　no　more；　say　no　more；　every　word　you　say　kills　me；'　cried　my　lady；　and　she　ran　on　like　one；　as　Mrs。　Jane　says；　raving；　'Oh；　Sir　Condy；　Sir　Condy！　　I　that　had　hoped　to　find　in　you'

'Why　now；　faith；　this　is　a　little　too　much；　do；　Bella；　try　to　recollect　yourself；　my　dear；　am　not　I　your　husband；　and　of　your　own　choosing；　and　is　not　that　enough？'

'Oh；　too　much！　too　much！'　cried　my　lady；　wringing　her　hands。

'Why；　my　dear；　come　to　your　right　senses；　for　the　love　of　heaven。　See；　is　not　the　whisky…punch；　jug　and　bowl　and　all；　gone　out　of　the　room　long　ago？　　What　is　it；　in　the　wide　world；　you　have　to　complain　of？'

But　still　my　lady　sobbed　and　sobbed；　and　called　herself　the　most　wretched　of　women；　and　among　other　out…of…the…way　provoking　things；　asked　my　master；　was　he　fit　company　for　her；　and　he　drinking　all　night？　　This　nettling　him；　which　it　was　hard　to　do；　he　replied；　that　as　to　drinking　all　night；　he　was　then　as　sober　as　she　was　herself；　and　that　it　was　no　matter　how　much　a　man　drank；　provided　it　did　noways　affect　or　stagger　him：　that　as　to　being　fit　company　for　her；　he　thought　himself　of　a　family　to　be　fit　company　for　any　lord　or　lady　in　the　land；　but　that　he　never　prevented　her　from　seeing　and　keeping　what　company　she　pleased；　and　that　he　had　done　his　best　to　make　Castle　Rackrent　pleasing　to　her　since　her　marriage；　having　always　had　the　house　full　of　visitors；　and　if　her　own　relations　were　not　amongst　them；　he　said　that　was　their　own　fault；　and　their　pride's　fault；　of　which　he　was　sorry　to　find　her　ladyship　had　so　unbecoming　a　share。　　So　concluding；　he　took　his　candle　and　walked　off　to　his　room；　and　my　lady　was　in　her　tantarums　for　three　days　after；　and　would　have　been　so　much　longer；　no　doubt；　but　some　of　her　friends；　young　ladies；　and　cousins；　and　second　cousins；　came　to　Castle　Rackrent；　by　my　poor　master's　express　invitation；　to　see　her；　and　she　was　in　a　hurry　to　get　up；　as　Mrs。　Jane　called　it；　a　play　for　them；　and　so　got　well；　and　was　as　finely　dressed；　and　as　happy　to　look　at；　as　ever；　and　all　the　young　ladies；　who　used　to　be　in　her　room　dressing　of　her；　said　in　Mrs。　Jane's　hearing　that　my　lady　was　the　happiest　bride　ever　they　had　seen；　and　that　to　be　sure　a　love…　match　was　the　only　thing　for　happiness；　where　the　parties　could　any　way　afford　it。

As　to　affording　it；　God　knows　it　was　little　they　knew　of　the　matter；　my　lady's　few　thousands　could　not　last　for　ever；　especially　the　way　she　went　on　with　them；　and　letters　from　tradesfolk　came　every　post　thick　and　threefold；　with　bills　as　long　as　my　arm；　of　years'　and　years'　standing。　　My　son　Jason　had　'em　all　handed　over　to　him；　and　the　pressing　letters　were　all　unread　by　Sir　Condy；　who　hated　trouble；　and　could　never　be　brought　to　hear　talk　of　business；　but　still　put　it　off　and　put　it　off；　saying；　'Settle　it　anyhow；'　or；　'Bid　'em　ca