按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
55
… Page 56…
Castle Rackrent
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
56
… Page 57…
Castle Rackrent
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
57
… Page 58…
Castle Rackrent
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；
58
… Page 59…
Castle Rackrent
and exposing yourself and me for this way？'
'Oh； say