Willy Reilly: The Works of William Carleton, Volume OneCarleton, William
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Willy Reilly: The Works of William Carleton, Volume One
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
“I must confess it,” replied the baronet; “but I think, in order to
ingratiate myself with Miss Folliard, I shall take whatever side she
recommends me. How, Mr. Folliard,” he proceeded, fixing his eyes upon
Reilly--“what the deuce is this? Have you got Robinson Crusoe here?”
“We have,” replied the squire; “but his man Friday has got married to a
Tipperary woman, and he's now in quest of a desert, island for him and
her to settle in.”
“I think, papa,” said Helen, “that if the principles of Sir Robert and
his class were carried out, he would not have far to go to look for
one.”
“Another hit, Bob, you dog--another hit. W'ell said, Helen--well said,
I say. Crusoe, you villain, hold up your head, and thank God you're
christened.”
“Wid de help o' Gad, shir, I was christhened afwhore, sure, by de
priesht.”
This visit occurred about six weeks after the appointment of the new
Viceroy to the Government of Ireland, and about five after the sheriff's
illness.
“Come, Whitecraft,” said the squire, “come and let us have lunch: I'll
hold a crown I give you as good a glass of Burgundy as you gave me the
other day, and will say done first.”
“Won't Miss Folliard join us at lunch?” asked Whitecraft, looking to her
for an assent.
“Why, I suppose so,” replied her father; “won't you come, Helen?”
“You know, papa, I never lunch.”
“'Gad, and neither you do, Helen. Come, Sir Robert, we will have a
mouthful to eat, and something good to wash it down; come along, man.
what the devil are you scrutinizing poor old Robinson Crusoe for? Come
along. I say, the old chap is making the green-house thrive; he beats
Malcomson. Here. Malcomson, you know Sir Robert Whitecraft, don't you?”
“Hout, your honor, wha' disna ken Sir Robert Whitecraft? Isn't his name
far and near, as a braw defender o' the faith, and a putter down o'
Papistry?”
“By the way, Malcomson,” said Sir Robert, “where did you get Robinson
Crusoe, by which I mean that wild-looking man in the green-house?”
“Saul, sir, it's a question I never speered at him. He cam' here as a
gaberlunzie, and on stating that he was indoctrinated in the sceence o'
buttany, his honor garred me employ him. De'il hae't but the truth I'll
tell--he's a clever buttanist, and knows a' the sceentific names aff
hand.”
“So that's all you know about him?” said Sir Robert. “He has a devil of
a beard, and is shockingly dressed. Why doesn't he shave?”
“Ou, just some Papistry nonsense,” replied the gardener; “but we hae
naething to do wi' that, sae lang's we get the worth o' our siller out
o' him.”
“Here's a shilling, Malcomson,” said Sir Robert.
“Na, na, your honor; a shilling's no for a man that understands the
sceence o' buttany: a shilling's for a flunky in livery; but as for me,
I couldna conscientiously condescend upon less than ten o' them, or
may be a pund British, but I'm feart that's contrair to your honor's
habits.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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