‘The spirits won’t be trifled with, sir,’ cried Mapleleafe.
‘Certainly not,’ said one of the elderly gentlemen. ‘Solemn mysteries like these should be approached in a fair and a—hum—a respectful spirit. For my own part, I am quite satisfied with what I have seen. It convinces me of—hum—the reality of these phenomena.’
The other elderly gentleman concurred. Dr. Kendall and Sir James, who had been comparing notes, said that they would reserve their final judgment until they had been present at another seance. In the mean time they would go so far as to say that what they had witnessed was very extraordinary indeed.
‘How are you now, Eustasia?’ said the Professor, addressing his sister.
‘My head aches. I feel as if I had been standing for hours in a burning sun. When you called me back I was dreaming so strangely. I thought I was in some celestial place, walking.
Bradley looked at the speaker’s face. It looked full of elfin or witch-like rather than angelic light. Their eyes met, and Eustasia gave a curious smile.
‘Will you come again, Mr. Bradley?’
‘I don’t know. Perhaps; that is to say, if you will permit me.’
‘I do think, sir,’ interrupted the Professor, ‘that you have given offence to the celestial intelligences, and I am not inclined to admit you to our circle again.’
Several voices murmured approval.