a mother or son. But some of our seers are contented with the death, after an interval of weeks, of a step-grandmother, an uncle by marriage, or even a mere acquaintance.
One case may perhaps be quoted, as illustrative of the kind of evidence which is required to make reports of vague occurrences of this kind worthy of serious consideration.
No. 74 From Mrs. Verrall[1]
"[Tuesday] September 20th, 1898, 3 p.m
"Dear Mr. Myers:
"Just a line for the stamp of the post—in case anything has 'occurred'—to say that this afternoon, at 2.30, I heard the curious ticking which I think I have mentioned to you. It comes usually, if not always, when I am lying down, and may be due to some physical cause; but it has at least once been associated with the illness of a friend, so I make a point of noting it, and I suppose the stamp of the post is desirable.
"But absit omen!
Mr. Myers noted on this letter: "Received September 20th, 1898, 8.30 p.m."
The omen was "fulfilled" on the following day. Mrs. Verrall's sister, landing from the steamer at Ouistreham, between ten and eleven P.M., on the fist, made a false step and plunged into the water of the harbour. She was rescued by the boatswain, who heard the splash, and suffered no serious ill effects. But no one had seen her fall, there
- ↑ Journal, S.P.R., November, 1899, p. 135.
