645 E. From the "Report on the Census of Hallucinations," Proceedings S.P.R., vol. x. p. 275. This case is particularly interesting because the agent, Miss Maughan (now Mrs. G. Rayleigh Vicars), has been successful in producing an experimental apparition of herself (see 668 D), while one of her sisters was the agent in another case of spontaneous telepathy (see "Report on the Census of Hallucinations," p. 291).

[Extract from letter received by Miss Maughan on March 12th from Miss Gatty. The original letter is in our possession].

Holbein House, Sloane Square, S.W. Wednesday, March nth, 1891.

I wonder whether you have been experimenting psychically, or if it be a mere curious coincidence that I should have had a distinct vision of you last night.

The facts are these. Being very seedy yesterday - writing to you probably tired me a good deal, and feeling very helpless where you were concerned distressed me more than a little - I went off to [bed] at about 8 o'clock. I read for an hour or thereabouts, and then fell asleep. I woke again when mother passed through to go to her own room, and several times in the night after dreaming in an unexciting fashion. Then I lay awakéfor some time, and thought about a Roman Catholic I know, etc.

A little while after, I don't know what it was that made me turn my head towards one special corner of the room, where I saw you standing (in a nightdress trimmed with Swiss embroidery), in a most ill-balanced posture. So much did this strike me that I got out of bed (the cold of the floor was excessive), and went to catch you, so that you might not fall over on your face. You remained there until I had made the motion of touching, when I found nothing there any longer. This is all, except that you looked as if you had candlelight or some faintly perceptible yellowishness behind you. I went back to bed, and, not liking to disturb mother by asking her the time, I listened for the chimes, and shortly after heard four strike. Of course I didn't go to sleep again, but lighted my candle and read until day dawned. At breakfast I told mother, who accounts for everything by the word "somnambulism," but says she heard me moving about. I am perfectly convinced of my wakefulness, but in any case, as I am unused to sleep-walking, that would be strange enough in itself to make me wonder if there should be any cause for it beyond my subjective reason of anxiety about you.

The time is the most curious part, is it not?

E. K. G.

Miss Maughan writes: -

East Kirkby Vicarage, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, May 21st, 1891.

I left W------, in Derbyshire, on March 10th, and arrived at Collingham, in Nottinghamshire, about 3 p.m. I was not alone, or able in any way to give my attention to any one subject until nearly midnight, when I went to bed. During the whole evening, though I had been busy hearing and giving news of mutual interest, I had experienced a sort of "undertone" of thought about my friend E. G. [Miss Gatty]. I had only once spoken of her incidentally during the evening, but I felt my mind revert to her in a general way for a few moments several times. When I got to bed I lay awake and thought of her again. Why, I did not really know. I had heard from her the day before, saying she was not well, but that was not specially in my mind, as I did not suppose she was more than temporarily indisposed. I remember wondering at the time why she was so present to my mind, as I had a great many things to think of that day totally apart from any connection with her.

I fell asleep at last, to wake up suddenly. It must have been after 3 a.m, as the fire had burnt very low - almost out.

During the short time I lay awake I remember clearly that the thought of E. G. returned strongly to my mind. I felt an instinctive turning towards her for the mental sympathy certain circumstances might render me in need of, and I felt with a sort of flash that she would be better able to understand what I wanted than any friend I had. I know I dwelt on this with strengthening confidence until I fell asleep.

I had not been dreaming consciously of anything: I merely woke up, thought of E. G-, and mentally claimed her sympathy, but with no intention whatever of trying to influence her in any possible way. The whole attitude of my mind was unconscious and involuntary, and, but for the letter I received from her on the 12th, I should have attached no importance to the matter.

Edith Maughan. Mrs. Sidgwick writes: -

June 26th, 1891.

I saw Miss Edith Maughan... this afternoon.... As to the appearance to Miss Gatty, Miss Maughan is quite sure that she did think of her in a special way, as the person who would be able to help her in an anticipated difficulty. This suddenly occurred to her in the middle of the night. It appears that Miss Gatty was troubled about Miss Maughan, wishing she could help her in her difficulty. Miss Maughan told me that she had written to Miss Gatty about this difficulty, and begged her to write to her often while it lasted. Miss Maughan is not sure whether the embroidery seen on the apparition by Miss Gatty was of the kind that she was wearing then.

Another case of the apparition of a person being seen twice is given in Proceedings S.P.R., vol. x. p. 356.