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1、CastleRackrentCastleRackrentByMariaEdgeworth1CastleRackrentINTRODUCTIONIThestoryoftheEdgeworthFamily,ifitwereproperlytold,shouldbeaslongastheARABIANNIGHTSthemselves;thethousandandonecheerfulintelligentmembersofthecircle,theamusingfriendsandrelations,thecharmingsurr
2、oundings,thecheerfulhospitablehome,allgotomakeupanalmostuniquehistoryofacountyfamilyofgreatpartsandnolittlecharacter.TheEdgeworthswerepeopleofgoodmeansandposition,andtheirrental,wearetold,amountedtonearlyL3000ayear.AtonetimetherewassometalkofapeerageforMr.Edgeworth
3、,buthewasconsideredtooindependentforapeerage.Thefamilytraditionseemstohavebeenunconventionalandspiritedalways.TherearerecordsstillextantinthepresentMr.Edgeworth'spossession,--papersofmostwonderfulvitalityforparchment,--whereyoumayreadpassionateremonstrancesandadjur
4、ationsfromgreat-grandfatherstogreat-great-grandfathers,andwheregreat-great-grandmothersrushintothediscussionwithvehementspellingandremonstrance,andmakemattersnobetterbytheirinterference.Ineverreadmorepassionatelyeloquentlettersandappeals.Therearealsorecordsofapleas
5、anternature;merrymakings,andfestivepreparations,and12s.6d.forapairofsilkstockingsforMissMargaretEdgeworthtodancein,carefullyenteredintothefamilybudget.Allthepeoplewhoseportraitsarehangingup,beruffled,dignified,calm,andperiwigged,ontheoldwallsofEdgeworthstowncertain
6、lyhadextraordinarilystrongimpressions,andgaveeloquentexpressiontothem.Idon'tthinkpeoplecouldfeelquitesostronglynowabouttheirownaffairsastheydidthen;therearesomanyprintedemotions,somanypublicevents,thatprivatedetailscannotseemquiteasimportant.Edgeworthsofthosedayswe
7、refartherawayfromtheworldthantheyarenow,dwellingintheplainsofLongford,whichasyetwerenotcrossedbyironrails.Thefamilyseemstohavemadelittleofdistances,andtohaveriddenandpostedtoandfro2CastleRackrentfromDublintoEdgeworthstowninstormandsunshine.IIWhenMessrs.Macmillanask
8、edmetowriteaprefacetothisneweditionofMissEdgeworth'sstoriesIthoughtIshouldliketoseetheplacewhereshehadlivedsolongandwhereshehadwrittensomuch,ands
