SPECTRAL ILLUSIONS. 125 



sitting before the dressing-glass, was occupied in arrang- 

 ing her hair. She was in a listless and drowsy state of 

 mind, but fully awake. When her fingers were in active 

 motion among the papillotes, she was suddenly startled 

 by seeing in the mirror the figure of a near relation, who 

 was then in Scotland, and in perfect health. The appa- 

 rition appeared over her left shoulder, and its eyes met 

 hers in the glass. It was enveloped in grave-clothes, 

 closely pinned, as is usual with corpses, round the head 

 and under the chin, and though the eyes were open, the 

 features were solemn and rigid. The dress was evidently 

 a shroud, as Mrs. A. remarked even the punctured pattern 

 usually worked in a peculiar manner round the edges of 

 that garment. Mrs. A. described herself as at the time 

 sensible of a feeling like what we conceive of fascination, 

 compelling her for a time to gaze on this melancholy 

 apparition, which was as distinct and vivid as any re- 

 flected reality could be, the light of the candles upon the 

 dressing-table appearing to shine fully upon its face. 

 After a few minutes, she turned round to look for the 

 reality of the form over her shoulder ; but it was not 

 visible, and it had also disappeared from the glass when 

 she looked again in that direction. 



5. In the beginning of March, when Mr. A. had been 

 about a fortnight from home, Mrs. A. frequently heard 

 him moving near her. Nearly every night, as she lay 

 awake, she distiRctly heard sounds like his breathing 

 hard on the pillow by her side, and other sounds such as 

 he might make while turning in bed. 



6. On another occasion, during Mr. A.'s absence, while 



riding with a neighbour, Mr. , she heard his voice 



frequently as if he were riding by his side. She heard 

 also the tramp of his horse's feet, and was almost puzzled 

 by hearing him address her at the same time with the 

 person really in company. His voice made remarks on 



