Never was little gentleman in such a fuss as Mr. Audley—never were so many orders issued and countermanded1 and given again—never were Larry Toole's energies so severely2 tried and his intellects so distracted—impossible tasks and contradictory3 orders so "huddled4 on his back," that he well nigh went mad under the burthen; at length, however, matters were arranged, two coaches with post-horses were brought to the door, Mary Ashwoode and her attendant were deposited in one, along with such extempore appliances for wardrobe and toilet as Mrs. Pickley, in a hurried excursion, was enabled to collect from the neighbouring shops and pack up for the journey, and Mr. Audley stood ready to take his place in the other.
"Larry," said he, before ascending5, "here are ten guineas, which will keep you in bread and cheese until you hear from me again; don't on any account leave the 'Cock and Anchor,' your master's horse and luggage are there, and, no doubt, whenever he returns to Dublin, which I am very certain must soon occur, he will go directly thither6; so be you sure to meet him there, should he happen during my absence to arrive; and mark me, be very careful of this letter, give it him the moment you see him, which, please God, will be very soon indeed; keep it in some safe place—don't carry it in your breeches pocket, you blockhead, you'll grind it to powder, booby! indeed, now that I think on't, you had better give it at once in charge to the innkeeper of the 'Cock and Anchor;' don't forget, on your life I charge you, and now good-night."
"Good-night, and good luck, your honour, and may God speed you!" ejaculated Larry, as the vehicles rumbled7 away. The charioteers had received their directions, and Mary Ashwoode and her trusty companion, confused and bewildered by the rapidity with which events had succeeded one another during the day, and stunned8 by the magnitude of the dangers which they had so narrowly escaped, found themselves, scarcely crediting the evidence of their senses, rapidly traversing the interval9 which separated Dublin city from the little town of Naas.
It is not our intention to weary our readers with a detailed10 account of the occurrences of the journey, nor to present them with a catalogue of all the mishaps11 and delays to which Irish posting in those days, and indeed much later, was liable; it is enough to state that upon the evening of the fourth day the two carriages clattered12 into the wretched little village which occupied the road on which opened the avenue leading up to the great house of Ardgillagh. The village, though obviously the abode13 of little comfort or cheerfulness, was not on that account the less picturesque14; the road wound irregularly where it stood, and was carried by an old narrow bridge across a wayward mountain stream which wheeled and foamed15 in many a sportive eddy16 within its devious17 banks. Close by, the little mill was couched among the sheltering trees, which, extending in irregular and scattered18 groups through the village, and mingling19 with the stunted20 bushes and briars of the hedges, were nearly met from the other side of the narrow street by the broad branching limbs of the giant trees which skirted the wild wooded domain21 of Ardgillagh. Thus occupying a sweeping22 curve of the road, and embowered among the shadowy arches of the noble timber, the little village had at first sight an air of tranquillity23, seclusion24, and comfort, which made the traveller pause to contemplate25 its simple attractions and to admire how it could be that a few wretched hovels with crazy walls and thatch26 overgrown with weeds, thus irregularly huddled together beneath the rude shelter of the wood, could make a picture so pleasing to the eye and so soothing27 to the heart. The vehicles were drawn28 up by their drivers before the door of a small thatched building which, however, stood a whole head and shoulders higher than the surrounding hovels, exhibiting a second storey with three narrow windows in front, and over its doorway29, from which a large pig, under the stimulus30 of a broomstick, was majestically31 issuing, a sign-board, the admiration32 of connoisseurs33 for miles round, presenting a half-length portrait of the illustrious Brian Borhome, and admitted to be a startling likeness34. Before this mansion35—the only one in the place which pretended to the character of a house of public entertainment—the post-boys drew bridle36, and brought the vehicles to a halt. Mr. Audley was upon the road in an instant, and with fussy37 gallantry assisting Mary Ashwoode to descend38. Their sudden arrival had astounded39 the whole household—consternation and curiosity filled the little establishment. The proprietor40, who sat beneath the capacious chimney, started to his feet, swallowing, in his surprise, a whole potato, which he was just deliberately41 commencing, and by a miracle escaped choking. The landlady42 dropped a pot, which she was scrubbing, upon the back of a venerable personage who was in a stooping posture43, lighting44 his pipe, and inadvertently wiped her face in the pot clout45; everybody did something wrong, and nobody anything right; the dog was kicked and the cat scalded, and in short, never was known in the little village of Ardgillagh, within the memory of man, except when Ginckle marched his troops through the town, such a universal hubbub46 as that which welcomed the two chaises and their contents to the door of Pat Moroney's hospitable47 mansion.
Mrs. Moroney, with more lampblack upon her comely48 features than she was at that moment precisely49 aware of, hastened to the door, which she occupied as completely and exclusively as the corpulent specimen50 of Irish royalty51 over her head did his proper sign-board; all the time gazing with an admiring grin upon Mr. Audley and the lady whom he assisted to descend; and at exceedingly short and irregular intervals52, executing sundry53 slight ducks, intended to testify her exuberant54 satisfaction and respect, while all around and about her were thrust the wondering visages of the less important inmates55 of the establishment; many were the murmured criticisms, and many the ejaculations of admiration and surprise, which accompanied every movement of the party under observation.
"Oh! but she's a fine young lady, God bless her!" said one.
"That's her father—the little stout58 gentleman; see how he houlds her hand for fear she'd thrip comin' out. Oh! but he's a nate man!" remarked a third.
"An' her hand as white as milk; an' look at her fine rings," said a fourth.
"She's a rale lady; see the grand look of her, and the stately step, God bless her!" said a fifth.
"See, see; here's another comin' out; that's her sisther," remarked another.
"Hould your tongues, will yees?" ejaculated the landlady, jogging her elbow at random59 into somebody's mouth.
"An' see the little one taking the box in her hand," observed one.
"Look at the tall lady, how she smiles at her, God bless her! she's a rale good lady," remarked another.
"An' now she's linkin' with him, and here they come, by gorra," exclaimed a third.
"Back with yees, an' lave the way," exclaimed Mrs. Moroney; "don't you see the quality comin'?"
Accordingly, with a palpitating heart, the worthy60 mistress of King Brian Borhome prepared to receive her aristocratic guests. With due state and ceremony she conducted them into the narrow chamber61 which, except the kitchen, was the only public apartment in the establishment. After due attention to his fair charge, Mr. Audley inquired of the hostess,—
"Pray, my good worthy woman, are we not now within a mile or less of the entrance into the domain of Ardgillagh?"
"The gate's not two perches62 down the road, your honour," replied she; "is it to the great house you want to go, sir?"
"Yes, my good woman; certainly," replied he.
"Come here, Shawneen, come, asthore!" cried she, through the half-open door. "I'll send the little gossoon with you, your honour; he'll show you the way, and keep the dogs off, for they all knows him up at the great house. Here, Shawneen; this gintleman wants to be showed the way up to the great house; and don't let the dogs near him; do you mind? He hasn't much English," said she, turning to her guest, by way of apology, and then conveying her directions anew in the mother tongue.
Under the guidance of this ragged63 little urchin64, Mr. Audley accordingly set forth65 upon his adventurous66 excursion.
Mrs. Moroney brought in bread, milk, eggs, and in short, the best cheer which her limited resources could supply; and, although Mary Ashwoode was far too anxious about the result of Mr. Audley's visit to do more than taste the tempting67 bowl of new milk which was courteously68 placed before her, Flora69 Guy, with right good will and hearty70 appetite, did ample justice to the viands71 which the hostess provided.
After some idle talk between herself and Flora Guy, Mrs. Moroney observed in reply to an interrogatory from the girl,—
"Twenty or thirty years ago there wasn't such a fox-hunter in the country as Mr. French; but he's this many a year ailing72, and winter after winter, it's worse and worse always he's getting, until at last he never stirs out at all; and for the most part he keeps his bed."
"Is anyone living with him?" inquired Flora.
"No, none of his family," answered she; "no one at all, you may say; there's no one does anything in his place, an' very seldom anyone sees him except Mistress Martha and Black M'Guinness; them two has him all to themselves; and, indeed, there's quare stories goin' about them."
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1
countermanded
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| v.取消（命令），撤回( countermand的过去分词 ) | |
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2
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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3
contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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4
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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5
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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6
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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7
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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8
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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9
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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10
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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11
mishaps
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| n.轻微的事故，小的意外( mishap的名词复数 ) | |
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12
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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13
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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14
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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15
foamed
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| 泡沫的 | |
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16
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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17
devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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18
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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19
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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20
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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21
domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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22
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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23
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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24
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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25
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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26
thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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27
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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28
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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29
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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30
stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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31
majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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32
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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33
connoisseurs
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| n.鉴赏家，鉴定家，行家( connoisseur的名词复数 ) | |
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34
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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36
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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38
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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39
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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40
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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41
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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42
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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43
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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44
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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45
clout
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| n.用手猛击；权力，影响力 | |
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46
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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47
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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48
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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49
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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50
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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51
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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52
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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53
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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54
exuberant
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| adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的 | |
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55
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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56
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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57
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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59
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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60
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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61
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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62
perches
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| 栖息处( perch的名词复数 )； 栖枝； 高处； 鲈鱼 | |
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63
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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64
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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65
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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66
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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67
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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68
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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69
flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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70
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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71
viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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72
ailing
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| v.生病 | |
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