In about another month we will start for Killarney, and see the lakes and the magnificent scenery by which they are surrounded." "Well, dear papa, I shall go to this dinner if I am at all able; but indeed I do not expect to be able." In the meantime every preparation was made for the forthcoming banquet.
It was to be on a large scale, and many of the neighboring gentry and their families were asked to it, The knowledge that Cooke, the Pythagorean, was at the Well had taken wind, and a strong curiosity had gone abroad to see him.

This eccentric gentleman's appearance was exceedingly original, if not startling.

He was, at least, six feet two, but so thin, fleshless, and attenuated, that he resembled a living skeleton.

This was the more strange, inasmuch as in his earlier days he had been robust and stout, approaching even to corpulency.

His dress was as remarkable as his person, if not more so.