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friends； and return to live with my father and family； during the remainder
of my wretched existence； at Mount Juliet's Town。'
At this my poor master fell back a few paces； like one that had been
shot。
'You're not serious； Bella；' says he； 'and could you find it in your heart
to leave me this way in the very middle of my distresses； all alone' But
recollecting himself after his first surprise； and a moment's time for
reflection； he said； with a great deal of consideration for my lady； 'Well；
Bella； my dear； I believe you are right； for what could you do at Castle
Rackrent； and an execution against the goods coming down； and the
furniture to be canted； and an auction in the house all next week？ So you
have my full consent to go； since that is your desire； only you must not
think of my accompanying you； which I could not in honour do upon the
terms I always have been； since our marriage； with your friends。 Besides；
I have business to transact at home； so in the meantime； if we are to have
any breakfast this morning； let us go down and have it for the last time in
peace and comfort； Bella。'
Then as I heard my master coming to the passage door； I finished
fastening up my slate against the broken pane； and when he came out I
wiped down the window…seat with my wig； I and bade him a 'good…
morrow' as kindly as I could； seeing he was in trouble； though he strove
and thought to hide it from me。
＇Wigs were formerly used instead of brooms in Ireland for sweeping or
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dusting tables； stairs； etc。 The Editor doubted the fact till he saw a labourer
of the old school sweep down a flight of stairs with his wig； he afterwards
put it on his head again with the utmost composure； and said； 'Oh； please
your honour； it's never a bit the worse。
It must be acknowledged that these men are not in any danger of
catching cold by taking off their wigs occasionally； because they usually
have fine crops of hair growing under their wigs。 The wigs are often
yellow； and the hair which appears from beneath them black； the wigs are
usually too small； and are raised up by the hair beneath； or by the ears of
the wearers。＇
'This window is all racked and tattered；' says I； 'and it's what I'm
striving to mend。'
'It IS all racked and tattered； plain enough；' says he； 'and never mind
mending it； honest old Thady；' says he； 'it will do well enough for you and
I； and that's all the company we shall have left in the house by and by。'
'I'm sorry to see your honour so low this morning；' says I； 'but you'll be
better after taking your breakfast。'
'Step down to the servants' hall；' said he； 'and bring me up the pen and
ink into the parlour； and get a sheet of paper from Mrs。 Jane； for I have
business that can't brook to be delayed； and come into the parlour with the
pen and ink yourself； Thady； for I must have you to witness my signing a
paper I have to execute in a hurry。'
Well； while I was getting of the pen and ink…horn； and the sheet of
paper； I ransacked my brains to think what could be the papers my poor
master could have to execute in such a hurry； he that never thought of such
a thing as doing business afore breakfast in the whole course of his life；
for any man living； but this was for my lady； as I afterwards found； and the
more genteel of him after all her treatment。
I was just witnessing the paper that he had scrawled over； and was
shaking the ink out of my pen upon the carpet； when my lady came in to
breakfast； and she started as if it had been a ghost； as well she might； when
she saw Sir Condy writing at this unseasonable hour。
'That will do very well； Thady；' says he to me； and took the paper I had
signed to； without knowing what upon the earth it might be； out of my
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hands； and walked； folding it up； to my lady。
'You are concerned in this； my Lady Rackrent；' said he； putting it into
her hands； 'and I beg you'll keep this memorandum safe； and show it to
your friends the first thing you do when you get home； but put it in your
pocket now； my dear； and let us eat our breakfast； in God's name。'
'What is all this？' said my lady； opening the paper in great curiosity。
'It's only a bit of a memorandum of what I think becomes me to do
whenever I am able；' says my master； 'you know my situation； tied hand
and foot at the present time being； but that can't last always； and when I'm
dead and gone the land will be to the good； Thady； you know； and take
notice it's my intention your lady should have a clear five hundred a year
jointure out the estate afore any of my debts are paid。' 'Oh； please your
honour；' says I； 'I can't expect to live to see that time； being now upwards
of fourscore years of age； and you a young man； and likely to continue so；
by the help of God。'
I was vexed to see my lady so insensible too； for all she said was； 'This
is very genteel of you； Sir Condy。 You need not wait any longer； Thady。'
So I just picked up the pen and ink that had tumbled on the floor； and
heard my master finish with saying； 'You behaved very genteel to me； my
dear； when you threw all the little you had in your power along with
yourself into my hands； and as I don't deny but what you may have had
some things to complain of；'to be sure he was thinking then of Judy； or
of the whisky…punch； one or t'other； or both；'and as I don't deny but you
may have had something to complain of； my dear； it is but fair you should
have something in the form of compensation to look forward to agreeably
in future； besides； it's an act of justice to myself； that none of your friends；
my dear； may ever have it to say against me； I married for money； and not
for love。'
'That is the last thing I should ever have thought of saying of you； Sir
Condy；' said my lady； looking very gracious。
'Then； my dear；' said Sir Condy； 'we shall part as good friends as we
met； so all's right。'
I was greatly rejoiced to hear this； and went out of the parlour to report
it all to the kitchen。 The next morning my lady and Mrs。 Jane set out for
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