‘Such a pity, Miss West, that Florence King had to leave us,’ Mrs Lynch laments. ‘I cannot step foot inside this house without recalling your dear spirit guide. That farewell séance! I will never forget how tenderly she clasped me. But my loss is nothing compared to yours. You must miss her most of all.’

Myrtle concentrates on pouring the tea, avoiding Mrs Lynch’s eye. ‘Of course I regret that dear Florence had to go,’ she sighs. ‘But I knew her guidance would only be given to me for a short time. She’s happy in Summerland now, and I’m living out her message here on Earth. It was Florence, you recall, who told me what would happen to my sister, and that I should study Mesmerism.’

‘I myself possess a great interest in the mesmeric force,’ Mr Collins announces pompously. ‘A magnetic fluid that flows through all creatures, ready to be manipulated and controlled, it is like a chemical, dear ladies. As a photographer, I have a vast knowledge of chemicals, and it is my opinion that spirit matter is just another such substance. I have high hopes of being able to photograph its fumes tonight.’

‘Do you consider the mesmeric force to be like spirit matter?’ Mr Stadler asks Myrtle, pointedly turning away from Mr Collins. ‘Is it composed of the same material?’

‘That’s what I’m going to find out,’ says Myrtle, flashing a confident smile.

Pearl listens with bemused interest. She only knows bits and bobs about this. All her knowledge comes from the parts of Missives from Summerland that Myrtle decides to read out loud to her.

Myrtle learnt to read when she worked at the match factory with Father, but she hasn’t taught Pearl.

‘I have heard the drollest anecdotes about Mesmerism,’ Mr Stadler says. ‘Accounts of nice young ladies suddenly swearing and kicking up their skirts whilst in a trance! One mesmerist even made his patient think that the water she drank was sherry instead. They willed it with the power of their mind, and she actually tasted sherry!’ He tips a wink. ‘Makes you think twice about the Miracle at Cana, eh?’

Pearl doesn’t like to hear him talk that way. The contributors to Missives from Summerland sound like good-hearted people, committed to the cause of truth, who want to use their supernatural learning to make the world a better place. They’re as devout in their faith as any Jew or Methodist. But the Society of Bath Spiritual Adventurers seek phenomena, and nothing more. All Mr Stadler wants the sisters to do with their precious gifts is to make ladies dance!

‘Myrtle’s going to heal my father,’ Pearl stammers. ‘She’s – she’s going to help people with her Mesmerism.’ All eyes turn towards her. Her palms sweat and she wipes them on her lap. ‘He thought he needed a – a doctor, but—’