"Last night I sat late by my fire _expecting_, but as nothing
seemed to be going to happen I went to bed, and soon to sleep.
However, I was to have my most startling experience! I was
awakened as if by some one violently shaking my bed (I must
mention there was a great wind blowing outside), and at the same
time I felt something press heavily upon me. _I struck out!_
rather frightened, but remembering again where I was, refrained
from striking a light, in order to see the next development of
this weird experience. To my disappointment nothing happened,
although sleep was successfully banished till daylight."
* * * * *
[On March 28th Miss "Duff" wrote to me: "Mr. ---- suggested that
I should describe to you more accurately the shaking of my bed,
as it was not at all such a vibration as might be caused by a
high wind or any ordinary movement occurring in other parts of
the House.
"The bed seemed to heave in the centre, as if there were some
force under it, which raised it in the centre and rocked it
violently for a moment and then let it sink again. I should also
have added, that on other nights quite as windy this phenomenon
did not occur; in fact, no movement I have ever felt has given
me quite the same sensation. The highest point on the
'Switchback' is the nearest to it in my experience. I was wide
awake at the time, so it was no nightmare."]
* * * * *