en how old
I was. Think of that.'

Then he wakened out of his doze, and began questioning me who the
gentlemen were. And the next morning it came into my head to go,
unknown to anybody, with my master's compliments, round to many of the
gentlemen's houses, where he and my lady used to visit, and people that
I knew were his great friends, and would go to Cork to serve him any
day in the year, and I made bold to try to borrow a trifle of cash from
them. They all treated me very civil for the most part, and asked a
great many questions very kind about my lady and Sir Condy and all the
family, and were greatly surprised to learn from me Castle Rackrent was
sold, and my master at the Lodge for health; and they all pitied him
greatly, and he had their good wishes, if that would do; but money was
a thing they unfortunately had not any of them at this time to spare. I
had my journey for my pains, and I, not used to walking, nor supple
as formerly, was greatly tired, but had the satisfaction of telling my
master, when I got to the Lodge, all the civil things said by high and
low.

'Thady,' says he, 'all you've been telling me brings a strange thought
into my head. I've a notion I shall not be long for this world anyhow,
and I've a great fancy to see my own funeral afore I die.' I was greatly
shocked, at the first speaking, to hear him speak so light about his
funeral, and he to all appearance in good health; but recollecting
myself, answered:

'To be sure it would be as fine a sight as one could see, I dared to
say, and one I should be proud to witness, and I did not doubt his
honour's would be as great a funeral as ever Sir Patrick O'Shaughlin's
was, and such a one as that had never been known in the county afore
or since.' But I never thought he was in earnest about seeing his own
funeral himself till the next day he returns to it again.

'Thady,' says he, 'as far as the wake goes, sure I might without any
great trouble have the satisfaction of seeing a bit of my own funeral.'
[A 'wake' in England is a meeting avowedly for merriment; in Ireland
it is a nocturnal meeting avowedly for the purpose of watching and
bewailing the dead, but in reality for gossiping and debauchery. [See
GLOSSARY 28]]

'Well, since your honour's honour's SO bent upon it,' says I, not
willing to cross him, and he in trouble, 'we must see what we can do.'

So he fell into a sort of sham disorder, which was easy done, as he kept
his bed, and no on