Observations placeholder

SHADOW LAND OR  LIGHT FROM THE OTHER SIDE by Elisabeth d’Esperance(1897)

When Walter did come, the first intimation of his presence was the rolling up of the garment we had made with so much care, and the handing it over to Mrs. E, with the message that it was not suitable nor required.

And Walter himself stepped boldly out from the cabinet into the midst of the circle, dressed in garments which, in whiteness, softness, and fineness put our gift to shame.

Walter was evidently very much elated at his success in "making a new body for himself" as he termed it, as well as his cleverness in providing the draperies which elicited so much admiration. He seemed to make himself rapidly familiar with all the company, and their conversation and remarks excited no little curiosity in me, for during all the time I was seated in the darkness of the cabinet, unable to see a glimpse of what was going on outside.

In spite of my wish to take part in the doings on the other side of the curtain, I felt strangely inert and listless; not sleepy; indeed, my brain seemed more wide awake and active than I had ever known it. Thoughts, impressions, chased themselves with lightening like rapidity sounds which I knew to be at a distance were as though close to my ears; I felt conscious of the thoughts, or rather the feelings, of every one in the room but had no inclination to as much as lift a finger to enable me to see anything, although at the same time burning with curiosity to catch a sight of Walter walking about in their midst.

Later on I discovered that this was not merely listlessness or inertia, but that I had literally no strength to exert myself without making a great effort, which invariably compelled the materialised forms to retire to the cabinet as though deprived of the power to stand or support themselves, but this fact, as well as many others, was not to be learned without pain.