Renewed conversation led to renewed experiments in the library.  Hugh, however, refused to have anything more to do with the plate-writing; for he dreaded its influence on his physical nature, attributing, as I have said, the vision of Margaret to a cerebral affection.  And the plate did not seem to work satisfactorily with any one else, except Funkelstein, who, for his part, had no great wish to operate.  Recourse was had to a more vulgar method —­ that of expectant solicitation of those noises whereby the prisoners in the aerial vaults are supposed capable of communicating with those in this earthly cell.  Certainly, raps were heard from some quarter or another; and when the lights were extinguished, and the crescent moon only allowed to shine in the room, some commotion was discernible amongst the furniture.  Several light articles flew about.  A pen-wiper alighted on Euphra’s lap, and a sofa-pillow gently disarranged Mrs. Elton’s cap.  Most of the artillery, however, was directed against Lady Emily; and she it was who saw, in a faint stream of moonlight, a female arm uplifted towards her, from under a table, with a threatening motion.  It was bare to the elbow, and draped above.  It showed first a clenched fist, and next an open hand, palm outwards, making a repellent gesture.  Then the back of the hand was turned, and it motioned her away, as if she had been an importunate beggar.  But at this moment, one of the doors opened, and a dark figure passed through the room towards the opposite door.  Everything that could be called ghostly, ceased instantaneously.  The arm vanished.  The company breathed more freely.

Lady Emily, who had been on the point of going into hysterics, recovered herself, and overcame the still lingering impulse:  she felt as if she had awaked from a momentary aberration of the intellect.  Mr. Arnold proceeded to light the candles, saying, in a righteous tone: 

“I think we have had enough of this nonsense.”

When the candles were lighted, there was no one to be seen in the room besides themselves.  Several, Hugh amongst them, had observed the figure; but all had taken it for part of the illusive phantasmagoria.  Hugh would have concluded it a variety of his vision of the former night; but others had seen it as well as he.

There was no renewal of the experiments that night.  But all were in a very unhealthy state of excitement.  Vague fear, vague wonder, and a certain indescribable oppression, had dimmed for the time all the clearer vision, and benumbed all the nobler faculties of the soul.  Lady Emily was affected the most.  Her eyes looked scared; there was a bright spot on one cheek amidst deathly paleness; and she seemed very unhappy.  Mrs. Elton became alarmed, and this brought her back to a more rational condition.  She persuaded Lady Emily to go to bed.