The following account is from Miss Hopkinson, of 37, Woburn Place, W.C. It will be seen that in this case the evidence is not first-hand from any of the percipients; nor is this case and most of the next case strictly covered by the rule (p. 119) which admits to the body of this work the evidence of persons to whom the percipient's experience has been described before the arrival of news of the agent's exceptional condition.1 But that there was here no such exceptional condition does not in any way increase the probability that the narrator has imagined that she was informed of experiences of which in fact she was not informed. And the news that some one has had a waking vision of oneself being calculated to make rather a special impression on the mind and memory, the agent in these instances is at any rate in a different position from an ordinary second-hand witness.

"February 20th, 1886.

(256) "In the course of my life I have been accused four times of appearing to people; neither can I account for those supposed visits".

Asked to give details, and to obtain corroboration, Miss Hopkinson replied: -

"It would be really quite excusable if you did not believe one word of my statements. I can get you no further information to support them. In the first instance of my supposed appearance, which happened some years ago, the young lady died very shortly afterwards. Her parents, too, are also dead. In the second, I gave the gentleman on whom I called to understand that he had made a mistake - I could not ask him about it now. In the third, though the lady only a day or two ago repeated to me her original account of my visit to her, she totally declined writing it out for me, or letting me use her name, on the idea, which I find very common, that these sort of things are irreligious. The fourth time rather differed from the others; but the young lady in that case died soon after. I am conscious that in all these cases I was thinking intensely of the individuals".

1 This is an excellent instance of delayed recognition; cf. case 249 above, and Chap.xii., §§ 2 and 3.

2Miss Hopkinson's case, however, as regards one incident in it - the third - is not even an apparent exception to the rule.

The following are the fuller details: -

"Case I occurred many years ago. A young lady, sleeping in a house next door to the one I was in, declared that I visited her during the night when she was lying awake, and that I performed some slight service for her. She was so positive in her statements that my denial was not be-believed by those around her. I was perfectly certain I had never left my room, nor could I have done so without its being known. I will not draw on my memory for further particulars; I might be wrong after so long a time.

"Case 2. Seven years ago. I had gone into the City (a place I always avoid) on a small matter of business connected with a relative of mine, and I was very anxious he should know nothing about it; my thoughts therefore were occupied by him. I was almost startled from my reverie by the clock of Bow Church striking 3. In the evening I saw my relative, and the first thing he said was, 'L., where did you go to-day? I saw you come in to my place, but you passed my office and I don't know what became of you.' I said, ' At what time were you ridiculous enough to think I should call upon you? ' 'As the clock struck 3,' he replied. I turned the subject - nor have I ever reverted to it since. This gentleman knew my dress and general appearance most intimately. Of course, I was not likely to visit him except on business, and by appointment.

"Case 3. About 6 years ago. I was staying in a country town 100 miles from London, at a busy, matter-of-fact home, with bright young people. One morning I came down to breakfast oppressed with a sensation I could not understand nor shake off. It resolved itself towards the afternoon in an absorbing thought of a relative in London, and I then wrote to ask her what she was doing. But a letter from her crossed mine, to ask me the same question. When I next saw her she told me what only last week she exactly repeated again: she was sitting quietly working, when the door opened, and I walked in, looking as usual; and though she believed I was miles away, she concluded I had come back, and did not realise to the contrary till I turned and walked out of the room.

"Case 4. Four years ago. A young lady asserted I stood at the bottom of her bed (she was not well at the time) and told her distinctly to get up and dress herself, and that I thought her well enough to do so. She obeyed. I told her she was quite mistaken; I had done nothing of the sort. She evidently thought I was denying the fact for some reason. I was about 20 minutes' walk from this young lady's room at the time. She was perfectly clear in her statement; and I would not argue the point with her. Her illness was not in the least mental.

"Louisa Hopkinson".

The next account is from Mrs. Stone, of Shute Haye, Walditch, Bridport.

"1883.