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family and the blood from which he was sprung； and how he might look
forward； if the then present man should die without childer； to being at the
head of the Castle Rackrent estate。 This was then spoke quite and clear at
random to please the child； but it pleased Heaven to accomplish my
prophecy afterwards； which gave him a great opinion of my judgment in
business。 He went to a little grammar…school with many others； and my
son amongst the rest； who was in his class； and not a little useful to him in
his book…learning； which he acknowledged with gratitude ever after。
These rudiments of his education thus completed； he got a…horseback； to
which exercise he was ever addicted； and used to gallop over the country
while yet but a slip of a boy； under the care of Sir Kit's huntsman； who was
very fond of him； and often lent him his gun； and took him out a…shooting
under his own eye。 By these means he became well acquainted and
popular amongst the poor in the neighbourhood early； for there was not a
cabin at which he had not stopped some morning or other； along with the
huntsman； to drink a glass of burnt whisky out of an eggshell； to do him
good and warm his heart and drive the cold out of his stomach。 The old
people always told him he was a great likeness of Sir Patrick； which made
him first have an ambition to take after him； as far as his fortune should
allow。 He left us when of an age to enter the college； and there
completed his education and nineteenth year； for as he was not born to an
estate； his friends thought it incumbent on them to give him the best
education which could be had for love or money； and a great deal of
money consequently was spent upon him at College and Temple。 He was
a very little altered for the worse by what he saw there of the great world；
for when he came down into the country to pay us a visit； we thought him
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just the same man as everhand and glove with every one； and as far from
high； though not without his own proper share of family pride； as any man
ever you see。 Latterly； seeing how Sir Kit and the Jewish lived together；
and that there was no one between him and the Castle Rackrent estate； he
neglected to apply to the law as much as was expected of him； and secretly
many of the tenants and others advanced him cash upon his note of hand
value received； promising bargains of leases and lawful interest； should he
ever come into the estate。 All this was kept a great secret for fear the
present man； hearing of it； should take it into his head to take it ill of poor
Condy； and so should cut him off for ever by levying a fine； and suffering
a recovery to dock the entail ＇See GLOSSARY 24＇。 Sir Murtagh would
have been the man for that； but Sir Kit was too much taken up
philandering to consider the law in this case； or any other。 These practices
I have mentioned to account for the state of his affairsI mean Sir Condy's
upon his coming into the Castle Rackrent estate。 He could not command
a penny of his first year's income； which； and keeping no accounts； and the
great sight of company he did； with many other causes too numerous to
mention； was the origin of his distresses。 My son Jason； who was now
established agent； and knew everything； explained matters out of the face
to Sir Conolly； and made him sensible of his embarrassed situation。 With
a great nominal rent…roll； it was almost all paid away in interest； which
being for convenience suffered to run on； soon doubled the principal； and
Sir Condy was obliged to pass new bonds for the interest； now grown
principal； and so on。 Whilst this was going on； my son requiring to be
paid for his trouble and many years' service in the family gratis； and Sir
Condy not willing to take his affairs into his own hands； or to look them
even in the face； he gave my son a bargain of some acres which fell out of
lease at a reasonable rent。 Jason set the land； as soon as his lease was
sealed； to under…tenants； to make the rent； and got two hundred a year
profit rent； which was little enough considering his long agency。 He
bought the land at twelve years' purchase two years afterwards； when Sir
Condy was pushed for money on an execution； and was at the same time
allowed for his improvements thereon。 There was a sort of hunting…lodge
upon the estate； convenient to my son Jason's land； which he had his eye
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upon about this time； and he was a little jealous of Sir Condy； who talked
of setting it to a stranger who was just come into the countryCaptain
Moneygawl was the man。 He was son and heir to the Moneygawls of
Mount Juliet's Town； who had a great estate in the next county to ours； and
my master was loth to disoblige the young gentleman； whose heart was set
upon the Lodge； so he wrote him back that the Lodge was at his service；
and if he would honour him with his company at Castle Rackrent； they
could ride over together some morning and look at it before signing the
lease。 Accordingly； the captain came over to us； and he and Sir Condy
grew the greatest friends ever you see； and were for ever out a…shooting or
hunting together； and were very merry in the evenings； and Sir Condy was
invited of course to Mount Juliet's Town； and the family intimacy that had
been in Sir Patrick's time was now recollected； and nothing would serve
Sir Condy but he must be three times a week at the least with his new
friends； which grieved me； who knew； by the captain's groom and
gentleman； how they talked of him at Mount Juliet's Town； making him
quite； as one may say； a laughing…stock and a butt for the whole company；
but they were soon cured of that by an accident that surprised 'em not a
little； as it did me。 There was a bit of a scrawl found upon the waiting…
maid of old Mr。 Moneygawl's youngest daughter； Miss Isabella； that laid
open the whole； and her father； they say； was like one out of his right mind；
and swore it was the last thing he ever should have thought of； when he
invited my master to his house； that his daughter should think of such a
match。 But their talk signified not