read and re-read the fragment, points very dark seemed, at least,
to become suddenly clear: especially one appeared to understand
the meaning half-revealed and half-concealed by Jasper's babblings
under the influence of opium. He saw in his vision, "THAT, I never
saw THAT before." We may be sure that he was to see "THAT" in real
life. We must remember that, according to Forster, "such was
Dickens's interest in things supernatural that, but for the strong
restraining power of his common sense, he might have fallen into
the follies of spiritualism." His interest in such matters
certainly peeps out in this novel--there are two specimens of the
supernormal--and he may have gone to the limited extent which my
hypothesis requires. If I am right, Dickens went further, and
fared worse, in the too material premonitions of "The Signalman" in
Mugby Junction.

With this brief preface, I proceed to the analysis of Dickens's
last plot. Mr. William Archer has kindly read the proof sheets and
made valuable suggestions, but is responsible for none of my
theories.

ANDREW LANG.
ST. ANDREWS,
September 4, 1905.



THE STORY--DRAMATIS PERSONAE