Lehal Library

bedside; that when the apparition advanced towards her she had screamed and awakened her sister, who also saw him. The gas was burning low, and the apparition "was seen with far more clearness than a real figure would have been". She protested that she was most certainly awake, as was her sister, who confirmed her story. They neither of them had previously shown any indications of being clairvoyant, nor had seen anything resembling a spirit form. Mr. Beard continued to be interested in the subject, and in December, 1882, at 9.30 p.m., sitting alone by his fireside in Southall, thought so intently of the interior of a certain house in Kew that he seemed actually to be there, and he fell into a sort of trance in which, though conscious, he was unable to move his limbs. (That, as will appear later, is a significant phase in the act of projection.) He regained consciousness at 10 p.m., and when he went to bed determined to visit the same house again at midnight, enter the front bedroom and make his presence felt by those asleep there. Next day he called at the house, and one of the ladies living there told him that on the previous night she had twice seen him, first about 9.30, when he was walking about in the passage — where she happened to be — and going from room to room; and again at midnight, when she was wide-awake. On the latter occasion he entered the front bedroom — which she shared with her sister — came up to her, took hold of her long hair, and then of her hand, at which he gazed intently. She spoke to him, but he did not reply. This lady believed she was slightly sensitive. On March 22nd, 1884, Mr. Beard again determined to visit Miss Verity, and to make his presence felt by stroking her hair. He apprised Mr. Gurney, one of the lights of the S.P.R., in