The Parasite | Page 8

had been before?"
"Why, where else should I find myself?"
"Would you mind telling me, Agatha, what it was that you dreamed
about me? It really is not mere curiosity on my part."

"I merely had a vague impression that you came into it. I cannot recall
any thing definite."
"If you have not been out to-day, Agatha, how is it that your shoes are
dusty?"
A pained look came over her face.
"Really, Austin, I do not know what is the matter with you this morning.
One would almost think that you doubted my word. If my boots are
dusty, it must be, of course, that I have put on a pair which the maid
had not cleaned."
It was perfectly evident that she knew nothing whatever about the
matter, and I reflected that, after all, perhaps it was better that I should
not enlighten her. It might frighten her, and could serve no good
purpose that I could see. I said no more about it, therefore, and left
shortly afterward to give my lecture.
But I am immensely impressed. My horizon of scientific possibilities
has suddenly been enormously extended. I no longer wonder at
Wilson's demonic energy and enthusiasm. Who would not work hard
who had a vast virgin field ready to his hand? Why, I have known the
novel shape of a nucleolus, or a trifling peculiarity of striped muscular
fibre seen under a 300-diameter lens, fill me with exultation. How petty
do such researches seem when compared with this one which strikes at
the very roots of life and the nature of the soul! I had always looked
upon spirit as a product of matter. The brain, I thought, secreted the
mind, as the liver does the bile. But how can this be when I see mind
working from a distance and playing upon matter as a musician might
upon a violin? The body does not give rise to the soul, then, but is
rather the rough instrument by which the spirit manifests itself. The
windmill does not give rise to the wind, but only indicates it. It was
opposed to my whole habit of thought, and yet it was undeniably
possible and worthy of investigation.
And why should I not investigate it? I see that under yesterday's date I
said: "If I could see something positive and objective, I might be

tempted to approach it from the physiological aspect." Well, I have got
my test. I shall be as good as my word. The investigation would, I am
sure, be of immense interest. Some of my colleagues might look
askance at it, for science is full of unreasoning prejudices, but if Wilson
has the courage of his convictions, I can afford to have it also. I shall go
to him to-morrow morning-- to him and to Miss Penclosa. If she can
show us so much, it is probable that she can show us more.

II
March 26. Wilson was, as I had anticipated, very exultant over my
conversion, and Miss Penclosa was also demurely pleased at the result
of her experiment. Strange what a silent, colorless creature she is save
only when she exercises her power! Even talking about it gives her
color and life. She seems to take a singular interest in me. I cannot help
observing how her eyes follow me about the room.
We had the most interesting conversation about her own powers. It is
just as well to put her views on record, though they cannot, of course,
claim any scientific weight.
"You are on the very fringe of the subject," said she, when I had
expressed wonder at the remarkable instance of suggestion which she
had shown me. "I had no direct influence upon Miss Marden when she
came round to you. I was not even thinking of her that morning. What I
did was to set her mind as I might set the alarum of a clock so that at
the hour named it would go off of its own accord. If six months instead
of twelve hours had been suggested, it would have been the same."
"And if the suggestion had been to assassinate me?"
"She would most inevitably have done so."
"But this is a terrible power!" I cried.
"It is, as you say, a terrible power," she answered gravely, "and the
more you know of it the more terrible will it seem to you."

"May I ask," said I, "what you meant when you said that this matter of
suggestion is only at the fringe of it? What do you consider the
essential?"
"I had rather not tell you."
I was surprised at the decision of her answer.
"You understand," said I, "that it is not out of curiosity I ask, but in the
hope that I may