Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/153

 MENTAL TELEGRAPHY AGAIN

me she had long ago ceased to exist, and had dis appeared from my consciousness. But I knew her instantly; and I saw her so clearly that I was able to note some of the particulars of her dress, and did note them, and they remained in my mind. I was impatient for her to come. In the midst of the hand shakings I snatched glimpses of her and noted her progress with the slow-moving file across the end of the room; then I saw her start up the side, and this gave me a full front view of her face. I saw her last when she was within twenty -five feet of me. For an hour I kept thinking she must still be in the room somewhere and would come at last, but I was disappointed.

When I arrived in the lecture-hall that evening some one said: &quot;Come into the waiting-room; there s a friend of yours there who wants to see you. You ll not be introduced you are to do the recognizing without help if you can. *

I said to myself: &quot;It is Mrs. R.; I sha n t have any trouble.&quot;

There were perhaps ten ladies present, all seated. In the midst of them was Mrs. R., as I had ex pected. She was dressed exactly as she was when I had seen her in the afternoon. I went forward and shook hands with her and called her by name, and said:

&quot;I knew you the moment you appeared at the reception this afternoon.&quot;

She looked surprised, and said: &quot;But I was not at the reception. I have just arrived from Quebec, and have not been in town an hour,&quot;

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