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household linen out of the estate from first to last； for after the spinning；
the weavers on the estate took it in hand for nothing； because of the looms
my lady's interest could get from the Linen Board to distribute gratis。
Then there was a bleach…yard near us； and the tenant dare refuse my lady
nothing； for fear of a lawsuit Sir Murtagh kept hanging over him about the
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watercourse。 With these ways of managing； 'tis surprising how cheap my
lady got things done； and how proud she was of it。 Her table the same
way； kept for next to nothing ＇See GLOSSARY 6＇； duty fowls； and duty
turkeys； and duty geese； came as fast as we could eat 'em； for my lady kept
a sharp look… out； and knew to a tub of butter everything the tenants had；
all round。 They knew her way； and what with fear of driving for rent and
Sir Murtagh's lawsuits； they were kept in such good order； they never
thought of coming near Castle Rackrent without a present of something or
othernothing too much or too little for my ladyeggs； honey； butter； meal；
fish； game； grouse； and herrings； fresh or salt； all went for something。 As
for their young pigs； we had them； and the best bacon and hams they could
make up； with all young chickens in spring； but they were a set of poor
wretches； and we had nothing but misfortunes with them； always breaking
and running away。 This； Sir Murtagh and my lady said； was all their
former landlord Sir Patrick's fault； who let 'em all get the half…year's rent
into arrear； there was something in that to be sure。 But Sir Murtagh was
as much the contrary way； for let alone making English tenants ＇See
GLOSSARY 7＇ of them； every soul； he was always driving and driving；
and pounding and pounding； and canting and canting ＇See GLOSSARY 8＇；
and replevying and replevying； and he made a good living of trespassing
cattle； there was always some tenant's pig； or horse； or cow； or calf； or
goose； trespassing； which was so great a gain to Sir Murtagh； that he did
not like to hear me talk of repairing fences。 Then his heriots and duty…
work ＇See GLOSSARY 9＇ brought him in something； his turf was cut； his
potatoes set and dug； his hay brought home； and； in short； all the work
about his house done for nothing； for in all our leases there were strict
clauses heavy with penalties； which Sir Murtagh knew well how to
enforce； so many days' duty…work of man and horse； from every tenant； he
was to have； and had； every year； and when a man vexed him； why； the
finest day he could pitch on； when the cratur was getting in his own
harvest； or thatching his cabin； Sir Murtagh made it a principle to call
upon him and his horse； so he taught 'em all； as he said； to know the law of
landlord and tenant。 As for law； I believe no man； dead or alive； ever loved
it so well as Sir Murtagh。 He had once sixteen suits pending at a time；
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and I never saw him so much himself： roads； lanes； bogs； wells； ponds；
eel…wires； orchards； trees； tithes； vagrants； gravelpits； sandpits； dunghills；
and nuisances； everything upon the face of the earth furnished him good
matter for a suit。 He used to boast that he had a lawsuit for every letter in
the alphabet。 How I used to wonder to see Sir Murtagh in the midst of
the papers in his office！ Why； he could hardly turn about for them。 I
made bold to shrug my shoulders once in his presence； and thanked my
stars I was not born a gentleman to so much toil and trouble； but Sir
Murtagh took me up short with his old proverb； 'learning is better than
house or land。' Out of forty…nine suits which he had； he never lost one
but seventeen ＇See GLOSSARY 10＇； the rest he gained with costs； double
costs； treble costs sometimes； but even that did not pay。 He was a very
learned man in the law； and had the character of it； but how it was I can't
tell； these suits that he carried cost him a power of money： in the end he
sold some hundreds a year of the family estate； but he was a very learned
man in the law； and I know nothing of the matter； except having a great
regard for the family； and I could not help grieving when he sent me to
post up notices of the sale of the fee simple of the lands and appurtenances
of Timoleague。
'I know； honest Thady；' says he； to comfort me； 'what I'm about better
than you do； I'm only selling to get the ready money wanting to carry on
my suit with spirit with the Nugents of Carrickashaughlin。'
He was very sanguine about that suit with the Nugents of
Carrickashaughlin。 He could have gained it； they say； for certain； had it
pleased Heaven to have spared him to us； and it would have been at the
least a plump two thousand a year in his way； but things were ordered
otherwisefor the best to be sure。 He dug up a fairy…mount against my
advice； and had no luck afterwards。 ＇These fairy…mounts are called ant…
hills in England。 They are held in high reverence by the common people in
Ireland。 A gentleman； who in laying out his lawn had occasion to level one
of these hillocks； could not prevail upon any of his labourers to begin the
ominous work。 He was obliged to take a LOY from one of their reluctant
hands； and began the attack himself。 The labourers agreed that the
vengeance of the fairies would fall upon the head of the presumptuous
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mortal who first disturbed them in their retreat ＇See GLOSSARY 11＇。＇
Though a learned man in the law； he was a little too incredulous in other
matters。 I warned him that I heard the very Banshee that my grandfather
heard under Sir Patrick's window a few days before his death。 ＇The
Banshee is a species of aristocratic fairy； who； in the shape of a little
hideous old woman； has been known to appear； and heard to sing in a
mournful supernatural voice under the windows of great houses； to warn
the family that some of them are soon to die。 In the last century every
great family in Ireland had a Banshee； who attended regularly； but latterly
their visits and songs have been discontinued。＇ But Sir Murtagh thought
nothing of the Banshee； nor of his cough； with a spitting of blood； brought
on； I understand； by catching cold in attending the courts； and
overstraining his chest with making himself heard in one of his favourite
causes。 He was a great speaker with a powerful voice； but his last speech
was not in the courts at all。 He and my lady； though both of the same
way of thinking in some things； and though she was as good a wife and
great economist as you could see； and he the best of husbands； as to
looking into his affairs； and making money for his family； yet I don't know
how it was； they had a great deal of sparring and jarring between them。
My lady had her privy purse； and she had her weed ashes ＇See
GLOSSARY 12＇； and her sealing money ＇See GLOSSARY 13＇ upon the
signing of all the leases； with something to buy gloves besides； and；
besides； again often took money from the tenants； if offered properly； to
speak for them to Sir Murtagh about abatements and renewals。 Now the
weed ashes and the glove money he allowed her clear perquisites； though
once when he saw her in a new gown saved out of the weed ashes； he told
her to my face （for he could say a sharp thing） that she should not put on
her weeds before her husband's death。 But in a dispute about an
abatement my lady would have the last word； and Sir Murtagh grew mad
＇See GLOSSARY 14＇； I was within hearing of the door； and now I wish I
had made bold to step in。 He spoke so loud； the whole kitchen was out
on the stairs ＇See GLOSSARY 15＇。 All on a sudden he stopped； and my
lady too。 Something has surel