Page:The Naturalisation of the Supernatural.pdf/259

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Phantasms of the Dead
239

light we could not tell. Figures too distant to be recognised came and went in the room, and once a girl in what appeared to be bridal dress stood just behind the opening of the curtain. Then the doors appeared to be shut for a time, but presently opened, and two Figures pushed aside the curtains and came down the corridor towards us talking. We recognised them as Mother and E———. Then the picture faded again, and we closed the sitting. This is to the best of my recollection, but as I took no notes at the time, I may easily have forgotten details.

In answer to further questions Miss A. writes:

October 14th, 1904.

The likenesses were formed on Mrs. C ———'s image in the glass, as it were, transforming her features into those of the persons represented. Her own face, as distinct from the image, was unchanged, except that the eyes were closed, while the faces in the glass all had their eyes open. This is an interesting point, I think.

The fourth witness, Mrs.H., dictated her account to Mrs. Wilson in the early part of November, 1904, as follows:

I first saw the head and shoulders of an old clergyman with grey hair—no beard; he wore the old-fashioned "Geneva bands" that the clergy used to wear. I did not recognise him, but, heard Mrs. P——— and Mrs. A——— say it was their father. I did not see him on the medium's face, but in a comer of the mirror, apart from the medium. I also heard Mrs. P——— and Mrs. A——— say that they saw their sister, but I did not see her. After this we saw a ball-room in the mirror, very brightly lighted, with people walking about in it. I did not recognise any of them. I ought to have said that at first I saw a curtain across the room, and it was when it was withdrawn that I saw the people walking about.

The room we were sitting in was lighted by a candle.