The picture Charter had drawn of Father Fontanel of Saint Pierre appealed strongly to Paula; and her mind's quick grasp of the Charter religion--the Practice of the Presence of the Higher Self--became one of her moments of illumination. This was ground-down simplicity. True, every idea of Charter's was based upon reincarnation. Indeed, this seemed so familiar to him, that he had not even undertaken to state it as one of his fundamentals. But had she cared, she could have discarded even that, from the present concept. So to live that the form of the best within be not degraded; the days a constant cherishing of this Invisible Friend; the conduct of life constantly adjusted to please this Companion of purity and wisdom--here was ethics which blew away every cloud impending upon her Heights. Years of such living could not but bring one to the Uplands. As to Charter, God had always been to her The Ineffable--source of solar, aye, universal energy--the Unseen All. "Walking with God," "talking with God," "a personal God," "presence of God,"--these were forms of speech she could never use, but the Higher Self--this white charioteer--the soul-body that rises when the clay falls--here was a Personal God, indeed. TENTH CHAPTER PAULA SEES SELMA CROSS IN TRAGEDY, AND IN HER OWN APARTMENT NEXT MORNING IS GIVEN A REALITY TO PLAY Selma Cross did not reach New York until the morning of the opening day at the _Herriot Theatre_. She was very tired from rehearsals and the try-outs along the string of second cities. There had been a big difference of opinion regarding _The Thing_, among what New Yorkers are pleased to call the provincial critics. From the character of the first notices, on the contrary, it was apparent that the townsmen were not a little afraid to trust such a startling play to New York. Mid-forenoon of an early April day, the actress rapped upon Paula's door. "I have seen the boards," Paula exclaimed. "'Selma Cross' in letters big as you are; and yesterday afternoon they were hanging the electric sign in front of the _Herriot_. Also I shall be there to-night--since I was wise enough to secure a ticket ten days ago. Isn't it glorious?" "Yes, I am quite happy about it," Selma Cross said, stretching out upon the lounge. "Of course, it's not over until we see the morning papers. I was never afraid--even of the vitriol-throwers, before. You see, I have to think about success for Stephen Cabot, too." "Is he well?" Paula asked hastily. "Oh yes, though I think sometimes he's a martyr. Oh, I have so much to say----" "You said you would tell me some time how Vhruebert first decided to take you on," Paula urged.