leaving me not quite contented with the state of affairs. I sat down,
and wrote a letter to my cousin, Phil Purdon of Kanturk, telling him
what I was about, and giving directions what was to be done in the case
of any fatal event. I communicated to him the whole story--deplored my
unhappy fate in being thus cut off in the flower of my youth--left him
three pair of buckskin breeches--and repented my sins. This letter I
immediately packed off by a special messenger, and then began
half-a-dozen others, of various styles of tenderness and sentimentality,
to be delivered after my melancholy decease. The day went off fast
enough, I assure you; and at five the Major, and Wooden-leg Waddy,
arrived in high spirits.

"'Here, my boy,' said Waddy, handing me the pistols, 'here are the
flutes; and pretty music, I can tell you, they make.'

"'As for dinner,' said Major Mug, 'I do not much care; but, Mr Burke, I
hope it is ready, as I am rather hungry. We must dine lightly, however,
and drink not much. If we come off with flying colours, we may crack a
bottle together by-and-by; in case you shoot Brady, I have everything
arranged for our keeping out of the way until the thing blows over--if
he shoot you, I'll see you buried. Of course, you would not recommend
anything so ungenteel as a prosecution? No. I'll take care it shall all
appear in the papers, and announce that Robert Burke, Esq., met his
death with becoming fortitude, assuring the unhappy survivor that he
heartily forgave him, and wished him health and happiness.'

"'I must tell you,' said Wooden-leg Waddy, 'it's all over Mallow, and
the whole town will be on the ground to see it. Miss Dosy knows of it,
and is quite delighted--she says she will certainly marry the survivor.
I spoke to the magistrate to keep out of the way, and he promised that,
though it deprived him of a great pleasure, he would go and dine five
miles off--and know nothing about it. But here comes dinner. Let us be
jolly.'

"I cannot say that I played on that day as brilliant a part with the
knife and fork as I usually do, and did not sympathise much in the
speculations of my guests, who pushed the bottle about with great
energy, recommending me, however, to refrain. At last the Major looked
at his watch, which he had kept lying on the table before him from the
beginning of dinner--started up--clapped me on the shoulder, and
declaring it only wanted six minutes and thirty-five seconds of the
time, hurr