306 STUDIES IN LIFE AND SENSE. 



i 



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 



