it was certain that he
could never compose one anywhere. As inspiration was slow in coming he
began to write almost at haphazard, uncritically, carelessly. "I will do
a certain amount every day," he said to himself, "whether I feel
inclined to or not."

Inevitably, as the days went by, he and Charmian grew more at ease in,
more accustomed to, the new way of life. They fell into habits of
living. Claude was at last beginning to "feel" his opera. The complete
novelty of his task puzzled him, put a strain on his nerves and his
brain. But at the same time it roused perforce his intellectual
activities. Even the tug at his will which he was obliged frequently to
give, seemed to strengthen certain fibers of his intellect. This opera
was not going to be easy in its coming. But it must, it should come!

Charmian decided to take up a course of reading and wrote to Susan
Fleet, who was in London, begging her to send out a series of books on
theosophical practice and doctrine suitable to a totally ignorant
inquirer. Charmian chose to take a course of reading on theosophy simply
because of her admiration and respect for Susan Fleet. Ever since she
had known Susan, and made that confession to her, she had been "going"
to read something about the creed which seemed to make Susan so happy
and so attractive. But she had never found the time. At length the
opportunity presented itself.

Susan Fleet sent out a parcel of manuals by Annie Besant and Leadbeater,
among them _The Astral Plane_, _Reincarnation_, _Death--and After?_ and
_The Seven Principles of Man_. She also sent bigger books by Sinnet,
Blavatsky, and Steiner. But she advised Charmian to begin with the
manuals, and to read slowly, and only a little at a time. Susan was no
propagandist, but she was a sensible woman. She hated "scamping." If
Charmian were in earnest she had best be put in the right way. The
letter which accompanied the books was long and calmly serious. When
Charmian had read it she felt almost alarmed at the gravity of the task
which she had chosen to confront. It had been easy to have energy for
Claude in London. She feared it would be less easy to have energy for
herself in Mustapha. But she resolved not to shrink back now. Rather
vaguely she imagined that through theosophy lay the path to serenity and
patience. Just now--indeed, for a long time to come, she needed, would
need above all things, patience. In calm must be made the long
preparations for that