The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. | Page 8

of the most beautiful, accomplished, and meritorious persons in the
world. Often and often has she talked to me and the neighbours regarding her own
humility and piety, pointing them out in such a way that I would defy the most obstinate
to disbelieve her.
When we left Castle Brady we came to occupy a house in Brady's town, which mamma
christened Barryville. I confess it was but a small place, but, indeed, we made the most of
it. I have mentioned the family pedigree which hung up in the drawingroom, which
mamma called the yellow saloon, and my bedroom was called the pink bedroom, and
hers the orange tawny apartment (how well I remember them all!); and at dinner-time
Tim regularly rang a great bell, and we each had a silver tankard to drink from, and
mother boasted with justice that I had as good a bottle of claret by my side as any squire
of the land. So indeed I had, but I was not, of course, allowed at my tender years to drink
any of the wine; which thus attained a considerable age, even in the decanter.
Uncle Brady (in spite of the family quarrel) found out the above fact one day by calling at
Barryville at dinner-time, and unluckily tasting the liquor. You should have seen how he
sputtered and made faces! But the honest gentleman was not particular about his wine, or
the company in which he drank it. He would get drunk, indeed, with the parson or the
priest indifferently; with the latter, much to my mother's indignation, for, as a true blue
Nassauite, she heartily despised all those of the old faith, and would scarcely sit down in
the room with a benighted Papist. But the squire had no such scruples; he was, indeed,
one of the easiest, idlest, and best- natured fellows that ever lived, and many an hour
would he pass with the lonely widow when he was tired of Madam Brady at home. He
liked me, he said, as much as one of his own sons, and at length, after the widow had held
out for a couple of years, she agreed to allow me to return to the castle; though, for
herself, she resolutely kept the oath which she had made with regard to her sister-in-law.
The very first day I returned to Castle Brady my trials may be said, in a manner, to have
begun. My cousin, Master Mick, a huge monster of nineteen (who hated me, and I
promise you I returned the compliment), insulted me at dinner about my mother's poverty,
and made all the girls of the family titter. So when we went to the stables, whither Mick
always went for his pipe of tobacco after dinner, I told him a piece of my mind, and there
was a fight for at least ten minutes, during which I stood to him like a man, and blacked
his left eye, though I was myself only twelve years old at the time. Of course he beat me,
but a beating makes only a small impression on a lad of that tender age, as I had proved
many times in battles with the ragged Brady's Town boys before, not one of whom, at my
time of life, was my match. My uncle was very much pleased when he heard of my
gallantry; my cousin Nora brought brown paper and vinegar for my nose, and I went
home that night with a pint of claret under my girdle, not a little proud, let me tell you, at
having held my own against Mick so long.
And though he persisted in his bad treatment of me, and used to cane me whenever I fell
in his way, yet I was very happy now at Castle Brady with the company there, and my
cousins, or some of them, and the kindness of my uncle, with whom I became a
prodigious favourite. He bought a colt for me, and taught me to ride. He took me out
coursing and fowling, and instructed me to shoot flying. And at length I was released

from Mick's persecution, for his brother, Master Ulick, returning from Trinity College,
and hating his elder brother, as is mostly the way in families of fashion, took me under
his protection; and from that time, as Ulick was a deal bigger and stronger than Mick, I,
English Redmond, as I was called, was left alone; except when the former thought fit to
thrash me, which he did whenever he thought proper.
Nor was my learning neglected in the ornamental parts, for I had an uncommon natural
genius for many things, and soon topped in accomplishments most of the persons around
me. I had a quick ear and a fine voice, which