M. F. A. L.—Raymond, I want to ask you a question as a test: What is the name of the sphere on which you are living?
[I did this, because others beside Raymond have said, through Mrs. Leonard, that they were living on the third sphere, and that it was called 'Summerland,' so I thought it might be an idea of the medium's.[26] I don't much like these 'sphere' messages, and don't know whether they mean anything; but I assume that 'sphere' may mean condition, or state of development.]
We took the alphabet, and the answer came at once:—
SUMMERRLODGE.
We asked, after the second R, if there was not some mistake; and again when O came, instead of the A we had expected for 'Summerland.'
But he said No.
So we went on, though I thought it was hopelessly wrong, and ceased to follow. I felt sure it was mere muddle.
So my surprise was the greater when the note-taker read out, 'Summer R. Lodge,' and I found he had signed his name to it, to show, I suppose, that it was his own statement, and not Feda's.
[Lorna reports that the impression made upon them was that Raymond knew they had been expecting one ending, and that he was amused at having succeeded in giving them another. They enjoyed the joke together, and the table shook as if laughing.]
We talked to him a little after this, and Alec and Noël put their hands on the table, and we said good night.