THE QUESTION OF POSSIBLE INFLUENCE 



EIGHTEENTH May, 1916. Lola, who since 

 the middle of April has been accustomed to 

 giving her own independent, and often lengthy, 

 answers, was now rapping very well. Her replies 

 were to the point, decidedly apt, and often quite 

 unexpected. Moreover she usually stuck obstinately 

 to her own way should I happen to think that some- 

 thing was incorrect, until on giving in I sometimes 

 had to acknowledge that she had been right after all. 

 Now, on the 18 May I said to her : " Lola, you must 

 write to my father and thank him for the biscuits, 

 he will then send you some more. This is the way to 

 write a letter, one begins ' dear Father,' or just 

 ' dear,' and then one tells what one is thinking about, 

 you must, therefore, thank him and when the letter 

 is finished you must put ' love from Lola '." Now 

 then begin. Lola started rapping out without 

 further delay, and continued rapidly and " fluently " 

 so to speak her letter running as follows : " lib, 

 nach uns kom, ich una ..." (here I interrupted her, 

 believing her about to say " ich und Henny ") and 

 asked " is this right ? " She said it was : " but, 

 Lola," I urged, " be sure you are careful ! ought this 

 not to be a ' d ' ? " " No ! " she said. I was at a 

 loss^to make out where this " a " came in, but told her 

 to go on and Lola rapped ; "... artig eben, oft 



97 



