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amily； used to make signals to her and leave notes under the table cover； asking for funds with which to help him out。 This was a great strain upon Janet and even more so was his death。 She could stand it no longer and fled the city。 Her lover's stealing was a secret which she had kept from her own family。
Before we had become acquainted with the true facts about the family this girl gave us most extensive accounts of various phases of her home life which included the most unlikely and contradictory details。 For instance； they had a large house with beautiful grounds； yet before she left home she bought a sewing machine for her mother； which she is paying for on weekly installments。 Her 8 a week is very little for her to live on because she is paying this indebtedness。 Janet wishes now to take out a twenty year endowment policy in favor of her mother。 Her brothers and sister are all very bright； she tells us； but she has never been particularly close to any member of her family except her mother。 The others always remind her that they are better educated than she is。 She expects to take up French and Spanish in the evenings because they would be very helpful to her commercially。 She does not care to grow up； prefers simple enjoyments； and has no desire for social affairs。 She is only desirous of improving her education。 She relates her success as a Sunday School teacher。 She thinks at times she is very nervous； and especially when she was in the high school she showed signs of it。 Then she used to stutter much； but of late she has been able to control this。
At another time； very glibly and without the slightest show of emotion； she continues with her story。 Tells of frequent fainting spells when she goes from one attack into another。 She has not had them just recently； but she used to have them at home。 Tells us now that her mother has been very sick and she has been worrying much about her。 She wanted to send money to her and help support her。 ‘It's awfully hard on one to know your mother is terribly sick and to think you can't reach her if anything should happen。'' （It is to be remembered that all this was told when the girl must have known； if she had thought at all； that we would certainly get the full facts in a day or so。）
On the physical side we found a very well developed and well nourished young woman。 Weight 148 lbs。 No sensory defect noted。 Moderately coarse features； broad deep chest； quiet and strong attitude。 No signs whatever of nervousness。 Her only complaint at present is of headaches and ‘‘quivering'' attacks。 （We could get no corroboration at all of either of these from any one else。） She frequently spoke of herself as entirely healthy except for these slight ailments。 Some months later； vide infra； it was discovered that Janet had a chronic pelvic trouble。 The most notable finding was Janet's facial expression when confronted by some of her incongruities of behavior。 Then she assumed a most peculiar； open…eyed； wondering； dumb expression。 When flatly told a certain part of her story was falsehood； she looked one straight in the eyes and said in a wonderfully demure and semi…sorrowful manner； ‘‘I am sorry you think so。'' Her expression was sincere enough to make even experienced observers half think they must themselves be wrong。
On the mental side she demonstrated good ability in many ways。 She had been through two years of high school and showed evidences of her training。 We tested her for a number of different capacities and； with one exception； we found all through that she did fairly satisfactory work； showing herself to have normal mental capabilities and control。
This exception was in the ‘‘Aussage'' or testimony test。 Here in reporting on our standard picture she gave in free recital 17 items； which is a fair result； but she added several incorrect details。 On questioning she gave 12 more items； but invented still more details。 Of the seven standard suggestions offered she very curiously accepted only one； and that not important。 As an example of how she would supply details from her fancy is the following： The picture represents a little girl standing by the side of an older person。 Janet said it was a little boy； that he had his hands in his pockets； a muffler on his neck； a stocking cap on his head； and black shoes and stockings。 All of these were voluntarily offered and all were incorrect。
Beyond this curious performance； and her peculiar lack of foresight and shrewdness； or whatever it is that causes her so readily to falsify and fabricate； we found not the slightest evidence of aberration。 Her conversation was coherent and to the point。
In the information obtained from the intelligent parents the following points stand out clearly。 The heredity is of interest。 There has been no known case of feeblemindedness； insanity； or epilepsy on either side； but there is a great admixture of very good with quite unstable qualities。 This is true of both sides。 Some members of the family have taken high positions in the community； and been exceptionally endowed mentally。 Others have been notoriously lacking in stability。 We are informed that on one side some have shown a marked inclination for tampering with the truth； and it is suggested that Janet's tendency is the result of early influence。 The care of an incompetent grandmother； whose word was notoriously untrustworthy； devolved upon the family and it was impossible to prevent Janet from being much with her。 All of the children were aware of the old lady's untruthfulness。 One of Janet's parents had been addicted to narcotics； but had managed to shake off the habit。 The other parent has had a severe attack of ‘‘nervous prostration；'' largely induced； it is maintained； by worry over family affairs。 It is most interesting to note that the other children； two boys and one girl； have turned out remarkably well； two being university graduates； and all being very stable in character。 Both parents are people of good moral ideals； and in spite of their own nervous defects have given their children very good care。
The pregnancy with Janet was not entirely healthy； but no worse than with the other children。 Her birth and infancy were normal。 Walked and talked early。 Started to school at 6。 Menstruated first at 13； not irregular。 She never had any severe illnesses of any kind。 As a child she once fell down some steps and was unconscious for a few minutes； but the accident was not known to have left any bad effects。 Janet's own stories of fainting are much exaggerated。 In fact； the mother has never really seen her faint； nor is there any evidence of any minor lapses of consciousness。 At times the girl would feel faint and ask that water be poured on her foreheadthat was all there was to it。 She was removed in the middle of her high school course on account of general nervousness。 The doctor felt she was working too hard。 Her parents are sure she was never a great sufferer from headaches。 Nothing else of importance could be found in her physical history。
The story of this girl's falsifications and fabrications as obtained from her people is exceedingly long。 As a young child she was not over…indulged in fairy stories； and the parents noticed nothing peculiar about her then。 She was not regarded as a child who had any unusual powers of imagination。 Somewhere about 12 years of age； her parents cannot be certain just when； they noticed she began the exaggeration and lying which has continued more or less ever since。 In the past two or three years this has grown upon her and she has been making not only untrue statements； but has been concocting peculiarly long and intricate fabrications。 The curious thing to the family is that Janet seems to have little shrewdness in lying； of normal ability in other things； she seems to have the mind of a child in this。 Very many deceptions are discovered in short order； but even then the girl will sometimes argue at length that what she has said was really the truth。 The parents insist she must know that she is lying； but her anomalous behavior has been so excessive that they have long felt she should be studied by a psychiatrist。 Her mother asserts there is some periodicity in Janet's tendencies。 She maintains she has noticed that most of her lies are told in the two or three days preceding menstruation。 （This was certainly not true during the period we observed the girl。） The parents are sure there has never been any particular mental shock； and the mother has always felt that Janet was particularly free from contamination by bad children。 At times she seems to realize her own bad behavior； and not long ago said she would become a nun； for in the tranquil life of the convent her tendency to lying would not be stimulated。
Further inquiry brought out the fact that it was true； as Janet stated； that in her high school course she became nervous to the extent of jerking and twitching； and that also for a time she stuttered。 Their physician said； however； that there was no definite nervous disease。
As a young child the parents never thought this girl in any way different from the rest of the family。 As she grew older she has been regarde