So much happened in this section that I can’t even keep track of it all. But this stuck out to me:
“Then you think I had better go?” said Hurree Babu, half rising. “They are of course, dematerialised phenomena. Spencer says -“
(Kipling 221)
The footnote here says Herbert Spencer (1820-1903), author of The Principles of Psychology (1855) and The Principles of Sociology (1876-96), among many other works. He represents a rationalism far removed from Hurree’s reluctant belief in the paranormal. My question is this: How can the Babu quote the epitome of rationality and still believe in paranormal stuff? You either believe or you don’t.