“Yes, lady, you have been brought here and allowed to use this man’s body——”
“A man?” She convulsively felt the coat and passed her hand over the face. “Yes, it is a man. Oh, I am dead! I am dead! What shall I do?”
“You are here that we may explain to you. You have been, I judge, a worldly woman—a society woman. You have lived always for material things.”
“I went to church. I was at St. Saviour’s every Sunday.”
“That is nothing. It is the inner daily life that counts. You were material. Now you are held down to the world. When you leave this man’s body you will be in your own body once more and in your old surroundings. But no one will see you. You will remain there unable to show yourself. Your body of flesh will be buried. You will still persist, the same as ever.”
“What am I to do? Oh, what can I do?”
“You will take what comes in a good spirit and understand that it is for your cleansing. We only clear ourselves of matter by suffering. All will be well. We will pray for you.”
“Oh, do! Oh, I need it so! Oh my God!...” The voice trailed away.
“Bad case,” said the Chinaman, sitting up. “Selfish woman! Bad woman! Live for pleasure. Hard on those around her. She have much to suffer. But you put her feet on the path. Now my medium tired. Plenty waiting, but no more to-day.”
“Have we done good, Chang?”