On being asked solemnly by Mr.Vigors "to look at Dr.Fenwick and see if his influence would be beneficial to the subject," the sibyl had become violently agitated, and said that, "when she looked at us together, we were enveloped in a black cloud; that this portended affliction and sinister consequences; that our rapport was antagonistic." Mr.Vigors then told her to dismiss my image, and conjure up that of Dr.Jones.Therewith the somnambule became more tranquil, and said: "Dr.Jones would do well if he would be guided by higher lights than his own skill, and consult herself daily as to the proper remedies.

The best remedy of all would be mesmerism.

But since Dr.Lloyd's death, she did not know of a mesmerist, sufficiently gifted, in affinity with the patient." In fine, she impressed and awed Mrs.
Ashleigh, who returned in haste, summoned Dr.Jones, and dismissed myself.
"I could not have conceived Mrs.Ashleigh to be so utterly wanting in common-sense," said I."She talked rationally enough when I saw her." "She has common-sense in general, and plenty of the sense most common," answered Mrs.Poyntz; "but she is easily led and easily frightened wherever her affections are concerned, and therefore, just as easily as she had been persuaded by Mr.Vigors and terrified by the somnambule, I persuaded her against the one, and terrified her against the other.

I had positive experience on my side, since it was clear that Lilian had been getting rapidly worse under Dr.Jones's care.

The main obstacles I had to encounter in inducing Mrs.Ashleigh to consult you again were, first, her reluctance to disoblige Mr.Vigors, as a friend and connection of Lilian's father; and, secondly, her sentiment of shame in re-inviting your opinion after having treated you with so little respect.