SPECTRAL ILLUSIONS. 4J 



step nor sound, nor feeling her clothes brushed 

 against, nor even any agitation in the air. Al- 

 though she was now convinced that the figure 

 was not her husband, yet she never for a moment 

 supposed that it was anything supernatural, and 

 was soon convinced that it was a spectral illusion. 

 As soon as this conviction had established itself 

 in her mind, she recollected the experiment 

 which I had suggested, of trying to double the 

 object: but before she was able distinctly to do 

 this, the figure had retreated to the window, 

 where it disappeared. Mrs. A. immediately fol- 

 lowed it, shook the curtains and examined the 

 window, the impression having been so distinct 

 and forcible that she was unwilling to believe 

 that it was not a reality. Finding, however, that 

 the figure had no natural means of escape, she 

 was convinced that she had seen a spectral ap- 

 parition like those recorded in Dr. Hibbert's 

 work, and she consequently felt no alarm or 

 agitation. The appearance was seen in bright 

 daylight, and lasted four or five minutes. When 

 the figure stood close to her it concealed the real 

 objects behind it, and the apparition was fully as 

 vivid as the reality. 



3. On these two occasions Mrs. A. was alone, 

 but when the next phantasm appeared her hus- 

 band was present. This took place on the 4th of 

 January, 1830. About ten o'clock at night, when 

 Mr. and Mrs. A. were sitting in the drawing- 

 room, Mr. A. took up the poker to stir the fire, 

 and when he was in the act of doing this, Mrs. 

 A. exclaimed, "Why there's the cat in the 

 room!" "Where?" asked Mr. A. "There, 

 close to you," she replied. "Where?" he re- 

 peated. " Why on the rug, to be sure, between 



