306 STUDIES IN LIFE AND SENSE. 



experience of mental phenomena was strikingly enlarged by the 

 occurrence with which the following narrative deals. Yet already I 

 find that round the original story there has gathered a surprising 

 accumulation of the mythical element, and that I myself am in 

 danger of becoming a hero of romance in more senses than one. As 

 I object to be looked upon as a kind of medium to whom super- 

 natural visitations are vouchsafed, and, on the other hand, do not 

 wish to be set down as a crazy dreamer whose disorganised nervous 

 system renders him abnormally liable to fantastic delusions, I have 

 yielded to the earnest request of some who have begged me to make 

 public the following paper. I am told that there are those who busy 

 themselves in collecting similar stories, and, if it be so, it is better 

 they should hear .the facts from me than after they have passed 

 through other channels. The narrative was written, at the request 

 of a friend, not many days after the event, when all the circum- 

 stances were fresh in my recollection. 



"On October 10, 1879, 1 drove over from Norwich to Mannington 

 Hall to spend the night at Lord Orford's. Though I was in perfect 

 health and high spirits, it is fair to state that, for some weeks pre- 

 viously, I had had a great deal to think about, some little anxiety, 

 and some considerable mental strain of one kind or another. I was 

 not, however, conscious of anything approaching weariness, irrita- 

 bility, or 'fag.' I arrived at 4 P.M., and was engaged in pleasant 

 and animated conversation till it was time to dress for dinner. We 

 dined at seven ; our party numbered six persons. Of these four at 

 least had been great travellers. I myself was rather a listener ; the 

 talk was general and discursive, and amused and interested me 

 greatly. Not for a single moment did it turn upon the supernatural ; 

 it was chiefly concerned with questions of art and the experiences of 

 men who had seen a great deal of the world, and could describe 

 intelligently what they had seen and comment upon it suggestively. 

 I have very rarely been at a more pleasant party. After dinner we 

 played a rubber. We 'left off as we began,' and as two of the 

 guests had some distance to drive we broke up at half-past ten. 



"The main object of my going over to Mannington was to examine 

 and take notes upon some very rare books in Lord Orford's library, 

 which I had been anxiously wishing to get a sight of for some years, 

 but had never been fortunate enough to meet with up to this time. 

 I asked leave to sit up for some hours and make transcripts. His 

 lordship at first wished me to let his valet remain in attendance to 

 see all lights put out ; but as this would have embarrassed me and 

 compelled me to go to bed earlier than I wished, and as it seemed 

 likely that I should be occupied till two or three in the morning, it 

 was agreed that I should be left to my own devices and the servants 

 should be allowed to retire. By eleven o'clock I was the only person 



