Щоденник незначної особи

           James,whoappearsagoodMedium(thatis,ifthereisanythinginitatall),thoughttheremightbealittlemorespiritpowerifGowingjoined;sothefiveofussatdown.

           ThemomentIturnedoutthegas,andalmostbeforeIcouldgetmyhandsonthetable,itrockedviolentlyandtilted,andbeganmovingquicklyacrosstheroom.Gowingshoutedout:“Wayoh!steady,lad,steady!”ItoldGowingifhecouldnotbehavehimselfIshouldlightthegas,andputanendtotheséance.

           Totellthetruth,IthoughtGowingwasplayingtricks,andIhintedasmuch;butMrs.Jamessaidshehadoftenseenthetablegorightofftheground.ThespiritLinacameagain,andsaid,“WARN”threeorfourtimes,anddeclinedtoexplain.Mrs.Jamessaid“Lina”wasstubbornsometimes.Sheoftenbehavedlikethat,andthebestthingtodowastosendheraway.

           Shethenhitthetablesharply,andsaid:“Goaway,Lina;youaredisagreeable.Goaway!”Ishouldthinkwesatnearlythree-quartersofanhourwithnothinghappening.Myhandsfeltquitecold,andIsuggestedweshouldstoptheséance.CarrieandMrs.James,aswellasCummings,wouldnotagreetoit.Inabouttenminutes’timetherewassometiltingtowardsme.Igavethealphabet,anditspelledoutSPOOF.AsIhaveheardbothGowingandLupinusetheword,andasIcouldhearGowingsilentlylaughing,Idirectlyaccusedhimofpushingthetable.Hedeniedit;but,Iregrettosay,Ididnotbelievehim.

           Gowingsaid:“Perhapsitmeans‘Spook,’aghost.