Something must have come under your observation to develop such theories in your practical head . Tell me what it was . '' `` To what purpose ? You would remain as sceptical as ever . '' `` Possibly not . Try me ; I may be convinced . '' `` No , '' returned Mrs. Sefton calmly . `` Nobody ever is convinced by hearsay . When a person has once seen a spirit -- or thinks he has -- he thenceforth believes it . And when somebody else is intimately associated with that person and knows all the circumstances -- well , he admits the possibility , at least . That is my position . But by the time it gets to the third person -- the outsider -- it loses power . Besides , in this particular instance the story is n't very exciting . But then -- it 's true . '' `` You have excited my curiosity . You must tell me the story . '' `` Well , first tell me what you think of this . Suppose two people , both sensitively organized individuals , loved each other with a love stronger than life . If they were apart , do you think it might be possible for their souls to communicate with each other in some inexplicable way ? And if anything happened to one , do n't you think that that one could and would let the spirit of the other know ? ''
`` You 're getting into too deep waters XXXXX me , Mary , '' I said , shaking my head .
Besides If To at for in of than under with