Page:The strange experiences of Tina Malone.djvu/53

Rh I suppose—asking and being answered questions all the time. The next day I found myself looking from side to side with a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment as one does on arriving at a new place, and an interested smile on my face. The next day I was conscious again of the movement of the boat when he continued his journey.

The Presence was always with me. We went shopping together and I found him even answering my questions when I asked him what I should buy.

It left no room for loneliness, but it made it impossible for me to do anything but keep my rooms in order, prepare and eat the simplest meals and nothing more.

It seemed to change its individuality and be somehow different people.

Whether I was what was called "Calling Spirits" or not I don't know, but I know they were different entities and of different dispositions.

One evening I was sitting at the open window, dreaming.

Suddenly there was a feeling of a straightening of my spine and then I felt myself taking a long deep breath.

Then, I suppose, I was what the occultists call "passive." I felt I was another person.

I let myself go—curious to see what would take place.

I found myself getting up and walking over to an armchair, putting my hands on its arms and speaking as if to another person sitting in the chair.

"Had I, I wonder, better go?" I found my lips saying in a kind of rhythm: "Had I, I wonder, bet-ter? Had I, I wonder, better go—Had I, I wonder, bet-ter?"

This went on as if someone were just turning over in his mind what to do. Then, evidently he decided that he had better go for I walked into the other room clasping my hands lightly in front of my waist and seemed to take a walk back into my front room. I then seated myself by the window and clasped my hands round one knee and sat there as if waiting serenely, and perhaps enjoying the moonlight.

Presently I turned and bowed to some unseen presence at my left.

Then I seemed to be answering "Yes, no, no," to some heated conversation and then began some heated conversation myself throwing my arms about in gesticulation. Then I broke out into a kind of patois.

Then I began to expostulate with this unseen person and to protest that I "never said such a thing," calling her a "little silly—Why should I say such a thing?" etc., and finally, turning my head as if watching a very annoyed little person disappearing while I muttered again, "Little silly! Little fool!" and shook my head as if at the unreasonableness of the little fool.