"Did you know the spirit visitor?" she asked.
With the question Kate's panic ceased. Her awe, her fright, passed into wonder and amazement.
"It was exactly like my great-aunt," she gaspingly admitted. "But, oh, it was terrible! Why do you let her go into such states?"
"We cannot control these manifestations. Hush! They are not yet finished. They are about to write for you."
Still lying in languid ease, the girl lifted one hand to the table--to Kate it seemed that the hand was raised by some outside invisible power--and there it rested, as though weary and meditating. As it paused thus the girl's eyes opened, and she sat regarding it as though it belonged to some other intruding self. Mrs. Lambert brought a pencil and a pad of paper, and laid them upon the stand.
Suddenly the hand woke to vigorous action. Seizing the pencil as a dog might lay hold upon a bone, it began to write slowly, firmly, while Viola watched it, quietly, detachedly, as if it were something entirely separate from her brain. At the end it tore the leaf from the pad and flung it to the floor.
Mrs. Lambert picked it up. "It is from father," she said; "but it is for you."
Kate took the leaf, on which was written, in a firm, round, old-fashioned hand, these words: "Your aunt is here, and asks that you and your brother pay her debt. She is angry because it has not been done."
"I have no knowledge of any such debt," said Kate. "I don't understand this."
The hand was writing again, busily, imperturbably, and the color was coming back into Viola's face. As Kate waited, her awe began to pass, and doubts came thronging back upon her. There was something farcical in all this.
Again the hand flung its message, and again the mother picked it from the floor.
"This also is from father," she announced, with more of excitement than she had hitherto betrayed.
The message began abruptly: "The doubter may be convinced if he will but put himself in the way of it. The life of my granddaughter is more valuable to-day than that of any king or queen. Her mission is to open the door between the two worlds. She is here ready for the test. Let the men of science come to her and be convinced of the life beyond the grave." It was signed with an elaborate rubric "McLeod."
"Who is this message for, father?" asked Mrs. Lambert. "Mrs. Rice?"
A violent thump answered "No."
"Maybe it's for my brother," suggested Kate.
Three tremendous thumps upon the underside of the table gave affirmative answer.