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informed me that Mrs。 … had not yet arrived from Charlotte Street； but she was sure to come before long； as she had an engagement （so she said） with a gentleman。
Nothing could have suited me better。 I immediately set to work to examine the room and the furniture with the greatest care。 I looked under and moved the sofa； tables； and armchairs。 I looked behind the curtains； under the rug； and up the chimney。 I could discover nothing。 There was not the vestige of a spirit anywhere。 At last the medium entered … a plain； middle…aged matron with nothing the least spiritual about her。 She seated herself opposite to me at the round table in the centre of the room； and demurely asked what I wanted。 'To communicate with the spirits；' I replied。 She did not know whether that was possible。 It depended upon the person who sought them。 She would ask the spirits whether they would confer with me。 Whereupon she put the question： 'Will the spirits converse with this gentleman？' At all events； thought I； the term 'gentleman' applies to the next world； which is a comfort。 She listened for the answer。 Presently three distinct raps on the table signified assent。 She then took from her reticule a card whereon were printed the alphabet； and numerals up to 10。 The letters were separated by transverse lines。 She gave me a pencil with these instructions： I was to think； not utter； my question； and then put the pencil on each of the letters in succession。 When the letters were touched which spelt the answer； the spirits would rap； and the words could be written down。
My friend had told me this much； so I came prepared。 I began by politely begging the lady to move away from the table at which we were seated； and take a chair in the furthest corner of the room。 She indignantly complied； asking if I suspected her。 I replied that 'all ladies were dangerous； when they were charming；' which put us on the best of terms。 I placed my hat so as to intercept her view of my operations； and thus pursued them。
Thinking the matter over beforehand； I concluded that when the questioner； of either sex； was young； love would very probably be the topic； the flesh； not the spirit； would be the predominant interest。 Being an ingenuous young man of the average sort； and desperately in love with Susan； let us say； I should naturally assist the supernatural being； if at a loss； to understand that the one thing wanted was information about Susan。 I therefore mentally asked the question： 'Who is the most lovely angel without wings； and with the means of sitting down？' and proceeded to pass the pencil over the letters； pausing nowhere。 I now and then got a doubtful rap on or under the table； … how delivered I know not … but signifying nothing。 It was clear the spirits needed a cue。 I put the pencil on the letter S； and kept it there。 I got a tentative rap。 I passed at once to U。 I got a more confident rap。 Then to S。 Rap； rap； without hesitation。 A and N were assented to almost before I touched them。 Susan was an angel … the angel。 What more logical proof could I have of the immortality of the soul？
Mrs。 … asked me whether I was satisfied。 I said it was miraculous； so much so indeed； that I could hardly believe the miracle； until corroborated by another。 Would the spirits be kind enough to suspend this pencil in the air？ 'Oh！ that was nonsense。 The spirits never lent themselves to mere frivolity。' 'I beg the spirits' pardon； I am sure；' said I。 'I have heard that they often move heavy tables。 I thought perhaps the pencil would save them trouble。 Will they move this round table up to this little one？' I had； be it observed； when alone； moved and changed the relative positions of both tables； and had determined to make this my crucial test。 To my astonishment； Mrs。 … replied that she could not say whether they would or not。 She would ask them。 She did so； and the spirits rapped 'Yes。'
I drew my chair aside。 The woman remained seated in the corner。 I watched everything。 Nothing happened。 After a while； I took out my watch； and said： 'I fear the spirits do not intend to keep their word。 I have an appointment twenty minutes hence； and can only give them ten minutes more。' She calmly replied she had nothing to do with it。 I had heard what the spirits said。 I had better wait a little longer。 Scarcely were the words out of her mouth； when the table gave a distinct crack； as if about to start。 The medium instantly called my attention to it。 I jumped out of my seat； passed between the two tables； when of a sudden the large table moved in the direction of the smaller one； and did not stop till it had pushed the little one over。 I make no comments。 No explanation to me is conceivable。 I simply narrate what happened as accurately as I am able。
One other case deserves to be added to the above。 I have connected both of the foregoing with religious persuasions。 The SEANCE I am about to speak of was for the express purpose of bringing a brokenhearted and widowed mother into communication with the soul of her only son … a young artist of genius whom I had known； and who had died about a year before。 The occasion was； of course； a solemn one。 The interest of it was enhanced by the presence of the great apostle of Spiritualism … Sir William Crookes。 The medium was Miss Kate Fox； again an American。 The SEANCE took place in the house of a very old friend of mine； the late Dr。 George Bird。 He had spiritualistic tendencies； but was supremely honest and single…minded； utterly incapable of connivance with deception of any kind。 As far as I know； the medium had never been in the room before。 The company present were Dr。 Bird's intimate friend Sir William Crookes … future President of the Royal Society … Miss Bird； Dr。 Bird's daughter； and her husband … Mr。 Ionides … and Mrs。 …； the mother of the young artist。 The room； a large one； was darkened； the last light being extinguished after we had taken our places round the dining…table。 We were strenuously enjoined to hold one another's hands。 Unless we did so the SEANCE would fail。
Before entering the room； I secretly arranged with Mr。 Ionides； who shared my scepticism； that we should sit side by side； and so each have one hand free。 It is not necessary to relate what passed between the unhappy mother and the medium； suffice it to say that she put questions to her son； and the medium interpreted the rappings which came in reply。 These； I believe； were all the poor lady could wish for。 To the rest of us； the astounding events of the SEANCE were the dim lights； accompanied by faint sounds of an accordion； which floated about the room over our heads。 And now comes； to me； the strangest part of the whole performance。 All the while I kept my right arm extended under the table； moving my hand to and fro。 Presently it touched something。 I make a grab； and caught； but could not hold for an instant； another hand。 It was on the side away from Mr。 Ionides。 I said nothing； except to him； and the SEANCE was immediately broken up。
It may be thought by some t