TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 23 



are filled to overflowing, and we respond with all the 

 vigour of our pent-up longing. We grope with our 

 puny words to comment upon situations which cannot 

 even be comprehended. I throw out my arms so 

 and gasp, as for air." 



"Bad business," said Ralph, in an alarmed voice. 

 " Do you feel faint?" 



" I merely spoke figuratively," very reproachfully. 

 " You might have known that. I gasp for the air 

 that is outside us, beyond, above, not the common- 

 place every-day air we breathe into our lungs. Give 

 me true ventilation, the ventilation of our psychic 

 natures. You follow me?" 



" It's a bit clever for me, don't you know," Ralph 

 replied, in a trying-to-appear-enlightened tone, " but 

 I thoroughly enter into the thing. It is on the 

 lines of the Johnnies who go in for star-gazing, 

 dissecting beetles, and other occult sciences, isn't 

 it?" 



"You dear boy! The very thing, but crudely 

 expressed. Can it be that you are a kindred spirit?" 



"Of yours? Yes, always." 



" Can I trust you?" asked Madam pensively. 



" Entirely. I am wholly at your service. You 

 must have guessed that." 



" Yes, I guessed by the wonderful power which is 

 given to so few of us. We are so material. But by 

 the means of thought transference, by the very sensi- 

 tiveness of my mind, by the aid of its acute mental 

 photographing process I can follow and grasp all 

 the thoughts that come to an affinity." 



