4H THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



power to form such visions, except when there is 

 diseased and abnormal action ; but it possesses a 

 power to combine real objects so as to form pictures 

 of the unreal, and this power is singularly active in 

 the time of sorrowing for a near and dear friend. 



It is probable that the experience of every reader of 

 these lines will supply instances in point. Sometimes 

 the deception of the mind is singularly complete, 

 insomuch that it is only by the determination to 

 approach the seeming vision that the ghost-seer is able 

 to remove the impression. I will cite an instance which 

 occurred to myself, as somewhat aptly illustrating the 

 principal circumstances tending to make such illusions 

 effective : 



My mother died during the long vacation of my first 

 year at Cambridge. It chanced that I was in Germany 

 at the time, and I suffered much distress of mind from 

 the thought that I had been enjoying a pleasure-tour 

 during the days of her last illness. Letters had fol- 

 lowed me from place to place, but it was only the 

 circumstance of my staying my journey one Sunday 

 at Heidelberg which enabled me to receive news from 

 England ; and I only reached home in time to attend 

 her funeral. Yet the full effect of these circumstances 

 was only experienced when I found myself again set- 

 tled in my rooms at Cambridge. There is a singular 

 mixture of society and solitude in university life, which 

 at times of trouble produces unpleasant feelings. 

 Throughout the day there is abundant opportunity for 

 intercourse with friends ; but although amongst one's 



