By such experience, too, the monotonous reading can be explained; it was
the commencement by less powerful hypnotists of a supporting attack: the
words would become audible, distinguishable, and noticeable later. This
might ensue after the victim was more deeply hypnotised.
Probably the very words which were to be used later were used then, a
sort of sub-conscious memory being created.
Apparitions of a misty nature are described by Podmore in his chapter on
"Haunted Houses."[33] Miss Langton saw a misty phantom, and _Lizzie_ the
housemaid saw a cloud and afterwards got a cramp, less persistent than
the butler's, as she began to scream.[34] The upper housemaid saw a woman
whose legs she did not notice,[35] as was the case with Mr. Godfrey's
friend to whom he appeared hypnotically.
[Footnote 33: "Studies," pp. 315, 326.]
[Footnote 34: "Haunting of B---- House," p. 167.]
[Footnote 35: _Ibid_., pp. 205, 207.]
The fact that the dog that appeared to Miss Freer was a spaniel like
Major S.'s, shows familiarity with the house on the part of the gang.
That they moved about early near the house is shown by Mr. C. hearing the
caw of the rooks at 5.35 on March 6; they would not start cawing so early
unless disturbed. There is thus abundant evidence (1) that rascals were
at work; (2) accounting for certain of the phenomena observed; (3)
pointing out their resemblance to cases of experimental hallucinations or
thought transfer; (4) that such hypnotic operations could be traced
by due vigilance. No. 2 is based in part on the writer's experience.
If the roads and neighbourhood had been patrolled, and exposure to
possible hypnotists avoided, the phenomena would have ceased. The
gentleman who wrote to the _Times_ made a point or two that were too
petty to notice, and was probably disagreeable to Miss Freer, but
detective work would have been useful. The gentleman's connection with a
class of men, the mad doctors whom the late Sir William Gull so rightly
despised, and whose observations have been so unscientific, may perhaps
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