An account

On questioning my eldest sister some weeks later, all these details, which I had absolutely forgotten, were corroborated. It is impossible, of course, that my wife can, even in casual talk, have ever heard of this trivial incident of my boyhood, any more than of other matters connected with the same event which she also detailed. But more curious than anything is the fact — for fact I suppose it is — that I could have dreamed of these entirely forgotten matters, that they should again have passed away, leaving no trace, and that yet she should read them in my mind the next morning ! In another communication Mr. Corder adds : — March 19th, 1884. I may say that I was absolutely incredulous both as to the truth of the dream-incident, and my having dreamed it ; but the moment I asked my sister about J. B. having been ill in our house, she (whose memory for youthful scenes is very strong) said unhesitatingly, ' Of course ; don't you remember it was at the Mc s' ball 1 He drank too much wine and came home in our cab. M. and C. carried him up to bed.' Those are nearly my sister's very words. There was no discrepancy whatever between her account of the matter and my wife's, but I cannot now remember whether the latter related it with especial minuteness of detail. Certainly the least discrepancy in the two accounts would have struck me, as — the incident being so entirely forgotten by myself — I applied every word uttered by both to my mind, to revive the dormant recollection. Miss Corder corroborates as follows, in a letter to her brother : — The Rocks, East Bedfont, near Feltham, Middlesex. April 4th, 1885. As you ask me to give you an account of the incident so strangely 318 DREAMS WHICH MAY BE REASONABLY [chap. referred to by Pauline, I will put down what I remember. One night when we were living either at Haddo or Canterbury Villas (the latter, I think) the boys went to a party at the Mc s', and there, it appeared, our youngfriend Jimmy B. took too much refreshment. I forget if he was still with the Rev. G. M. or in rooms ; but at all events they were afraid to take him home, and brought him to our place. I and R. were awakened by the noise the boys made in conveying J. up to C.'s room on the floor above us ; so we listened, and became aware of the proceedings, which we did not then fully understand. Next day J. had to keep in bed, and the mother went up and waited on him. He was very unwell, and if I remember rightly only got up at tea-time, when he took a cup of tea with us, and then returned to his place. I have an impression that the mother sent for Dr. Burton, who administered something. As to the notion that I or R. could ever have told Pauline this story in any of our former talks, I am certain that we have never done so. J. left England so long before we met Pauline that he was only mentioned once or twice, as the chief instigator of our dramatic performances in early days. Moreover, this story is not at all what I should relate about a friend ; and I can safely swear that it was never mentioned to anyone. This is all I remember, and it is quite distinct in my remembrance now.