‘I see faint forms floating on the sunbeam. They come and go, they change and fade. One is like a child, with its hand full of flowers. They are lilies—O, I can see no more. I am blind. There is too much light.’
The Professor drew the curtain, darkening the chamber. He then sat down in his place at the table, and requested all present to touch hands once more. So far, Bradley had looked on with impatience, not unmingled with disgust. What he saw and heard was exactly what he had heard described a hundred times.
With the darkening of the room, the manifestations recommenced. The table moved about like a thing possessed, the very floor seemed to tremble and upheave, the bells rang, the lights flashed.
Then all at once Bradley became aware of a strange sound, as if the whole room were full of life.
‘Keep still!’ said the Professor. ‘Do not break the chain. Wait!’
A long silence followed; then the strange sound was heard again.
‘Are you there, my friend?’ asked the Professor.
There was no reply.
‘Are the conditions right?’
He was answered by a cry from the medium, so wild and strange that all present were startled and awed.