Yet
Priscilla was not on good terms with Emma. Unless, then, Mrs. Hampson
and Priscilla fabled, it is difficult to see how Emma could move
objects when she was "standing at some considerable distance,
standing, in fact, in quite another farm".
Similar evidence was given and signed by Miss Maddox, the
schoolmistress, and Mr. and Mrs. Lea. On the other hand Mrs. Hampson
and Priscilla believed that Emma managed the fire-raising herself.
The flames were "very high and white, and the articles were very
little singed". This occurred also at Rerrick, in 1696, but Mr.
Hughes attributes it to Emma's use of paraffin, which does not apply
to the Rerrick case. Paraffin smells a good deal--nothing is said
about a smell of paraffin.
Only one thing is certain: Emma was at last caught in a cheat. This
discredits her, but a man who cheats at cards _may_ hold a good hand
by accident. In the same way, if such wonders can happen (as so much
world-wide evidence declares), they _may_ have happened at Woods Farm,
and Emma, "in a very nervous state," _may_ have feigned then, or
rather did feign them later.
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