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'Of course；' says Sir Condy。
'But it's not a matter of certainty that my Lady Rackrent won't recover；'
says Jason。
'Very true； sir；' says my master。
'It's a fair speculation； then； for you to consider what the chance of the
jointure of those lands； when out of custodiam； will be to you。'
'Just five hundred a year； I take it； without any speculation at all；' said
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Sir Condy。
'That's supposing the life dropt； and the custodiam off； you know；
begging your pardon； Sir Condy； who understands business； that is a
wrong calculation。'
'Very likely so；' said Sir Condy； 'but； Mr。 Jason； if you have anything
to say to me this morning about it； I'd be obliged to you to say it； for I had
an indifferent night's rest last night； and wouldn't be sorry to sleep a little
this morning。'
'I have only three words to say； and those more of consequence to you；
Sir Condy； than me。 You are a little cool； I observe； but I hope you will
not be offended at what I have brought here in my pocket；' and he pulls out
two long rolls； and showers down golden guineas upon the bed。
'What's this？' said Sir Condy； 'it's long since'but his pride stops him。
'All these are your lawful property this minute； Sir Condy； if you
please；' said Jason。
'Not for nothing； I'm sure；' said Sir Condy； and laughs a little。 'Nothing
for nothing； or I'm under a mistake with you； Jason。'
'Oh； Sir Condy； we'll not be indulging ourselves in any unpleasant
retrospects；' says Jason； 'it's my present intention to behave； as I'm sure
you will； like a gentleman in this affair。 Here's two hundred guineas； and a
third I mean to add if you should think proper to make over to me all your
right and title to those lands that you know of。'
'I'll consider of it；' said my master； and a great deal more； that I was
tired listening to； was said by Jason； and all that； and the sight of the ready
cash upon the bed； worked with his honour； and the short and the long of it
was； Sir Condy gathered up the golden guineas； and tied them up in a
handkerchief； and signed some paper Jason brought with him as usual； and
there was an end of the business： Jason took himself away； and my master
turned himself round and fell asleep again。
I soon found what had put Jason in such a hurry to conclude this
business。 The little gossoon we had sent off the day before with my
master's compliments to Mount Juliet's Town； and to know how my lady
did after her accident； was stopped early this morning； coming back with
his answer through O'Shaughlin's Town； at Castle Rackrent； by my son
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Jason； and questioned of all he knew of my lady from the servant at Mount
Juliet's Town； and the gossoon told him my Lady Rackrent was not
expected to live over night； so Jason thought it high time to he moving to
the Lodge； to make his bargain with my master about the jointure afore it
should be too late； and afore the little gossoon should reach us with the
news。 My master was greatly vexedthat is； I may say； as much as ever I
seen him when he found how he had been taken in； but it was some
comfort to have the ready cash for immediate consumption in the house；
anyway。
And when Judy came up that evening； and brought the childer to see
his honour； he unties the handkerchief； andGod bless him！ whether it
was little or much he had； 'twas all the same with himhe gives 'em all
round guineas apiece。
'Hold up your head；' says my shister to Judy； as Sir Condy was busy
filling out a glass of punch for her eldest boy'Hold up your head； Judy；
for who knows but we may live to see you yet at the head of the Castle
Rackrent estate？'
'Maybe so；' says she； 'but not the way you are thinking of。'
I did not rightly understand which way Judy was looking when she
made this speech till a while after。
'Why； Thady； you were telling me yesterday that Sir Condy had sold
all entirely to Jason； and where then does all them guineas in the
handkerchief come from？'
'They are the purchase…money of my lady's jointure；' says I。
Judy looks a little bit puzzled at this。 'A penny for your thoughts； Judy；'
says my shister； 'hark； sure Sir Condy is drinking her health。'
He was at the table in the room ＇THE ROOMthe principal room in
the house＇； drinking with the excise…man and the gauger； who came up to
see his honour； and we were standing over the fire in the kitchen。
'I don't much care is he drinking my health or not；' says Judy； 'and it is
not Sir Condy I'm thinking of； with all your jokes； whatever he is of me。'
'Sure you wouldn't refuse to be my Lady Rackrent； Judy； if you had the
offer？' says I。
'But if I could do better！' says she。
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'How better？' says I and my shister both at once。
'How better？' says she。 'Why； what signifies it to be my Lady Rackrent
and no castle？ Sure what good is the car； and no horse to draw it？'
'And where will ye get the horse； Judy？' says I。
'Never mind that；' says she； 'maybe it is your own son Jason might find
that。'
'Jason！' says I； 'don't be trusting to him； Judy。 Sir Condy； as I have
good reason to know； spoke well of you when Jason spoke very
indifferently of you； Judy。'
'No matter；' says Judy； 'it's often men speak the contrary just to what
they think of us。'
'And you the same way of them； no doubt；' answered I。 'Nay； don't he
denying it； Judy； for I think the better of ye for it； and shouldn't be proud
to call ye the daughter of a shister's son of mine； if I was to hear ye talk
ungrateful； and anyway disrespectful of his honour。'
'What disrespect；' says she； 'to say I'd rather； if it was my luck； be the
wife of another man？'
'You'll have no luck； mind my words； Judy；' says I； and all I
remembered about my poor master's goodness in tossing up for her afore
he married at all came across me； and I had a choking in my throat that
hindered me to say more。
'Better luck； anyhow； Thady；' says she； 'than to be like some folk；
foll