'(Manuscript of Notes to accompany Map of Persia (published by R.G.S) and the introduction to Haji Baba written by G.N.C. for Macmillan in 1895)' [‎38r] (75/144)

15
CASTLE RACKRENT
hall to learn something for certain about her. Sir Kit’s
own man was tired, but the groom set him a-talking at last,
and we had it all out before ever I closed my eyes that
night. The bride might well be a great fortune—she was
a Jewish by all accounts, who are famous for their great
riches. I had never seen any of that tribe or nation before,
and could only gather that she spoke a strange kind of
English of her own, that she could not abide pork or
sausages, and went neither to church or mass. Mercy upon
his honour’s poor soul, thought I ; what will become of him
and his, and all of us, with his heretic blackamoor at the
head of the Castle Rackrent estate ? I never slept a wink
all night for thinking of it ; but before the servants I put
my pipe in my mouth, and kept my mind to myself,
for I had a great regard for the family; and after this,
when strange gentlemen’s servants came to the house, and
would begin to talk about the bride, I took care to put the
best foot foremost, and passed her for a nabob An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. in the kitchen,
which accounted for her dark complexion and everything.
The very morning after they came home, however, I saw
plain enough how things were between Sir Kit and my lady,
though they were walking together arm in arm after breakfast,
looking at the new building and the improvements.
‘ Old Thady,’ said my master, just as he used to do, ‘ how
do you do ? ’
‘Very well, I thank your honour’s honour,’ said I; but
I saw he was not well pleased, and my heart was in my
mouth as I walked along after him.
‘ Is the large room damp, Thady ?’ said his honour.
‘ Oh damp, your honour! how should it be but as dry
as a bone,’ says I, ‘ after all the fires we have kept in it day
and night ? It’s the barrack-room 1 your honour’s talking on.’
‘ And what is a barrack-room, pray, my dear ? ’ were the
first words I ever heard out of my lady’s lips.
‘ No matter, my dear,’ said he, and went on talking to me,
ashamed-like I should witness her ignorance. To be sure,
to hear her talk one might have taken her for an innocent, 2
for it was, ‘ What’s this, Sir Kit ? and what’s that, Sir Kit ? ’
all the way we went. To be sure, Sir. Kit had enough to do
to answer her.
1 See Glossary. 2 Ibid.