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Chapter 22
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Iventuredtheexpressionthatitmightbeimpossible.
Mrs.Jamessaid:“Ohno!itisofcommonoccurrenceforthespiritstoanswerquestionsundersuchconditions—andevenforthemtowriteonlockedslates.Itisquiteworthtrying.If‘Lina’isinagoodtemper,sheiscertaintodoit.”
Gowingsaid:“Allright;thenIshallbeafirmbeliever.Ishallperhapsdropinabouthalf-pastnineorten,andheartheresult.”
Hethenleftandwesatalongtime.Cummingswantedtoknowsomethingaboutsomeundertakinginwhichhewasconcerned,buthecouldgetnoanswerofanydescriptionwhatever—atwhichhesaidhewasverydisappointedandwasafraidtherewasnotmuchintable-turningafterall.Ithoughtthisratherselfishofhim.Theséancewasverysimilartotheonelastnight,almostthesameinfact.Soweturnedtotheletter.“Lina”tookalongtimeansweringthequestion,buteventuallyspeltout“ROSES,LILIES,ANDCOWS.”Therewasgreatrockingofthetableatthistime,andMrs.Jamessaid:“IfthatisCaptainDrinkwater,letusaskhimtheansweraswell?”
ItwasthespiritoftheCaptain,and,mostsingular,hegavethesameidenticalanswer:“ROSES,LILIES,ANDCOWS.”
IcannotdescribetheagitationwithwhichCarriebroketheseal,orthedisappointmentwefeltonreadingthequestion,towhichtheanswerwassoinappropriate.Thequestionwas,“What’soldPooter’sage?”
Thisquitedecidedme.
AsIhadputmyfootdownonSpiritualismyearsago,soIwouldagain
