The room was Henrietta, unimaginative, practical, disinterested. Expensive, department store furniture, overstuffed chairs and davenport, floor lamp, mahogany. Henrietta had ordered the furnishings, the maid had set them in place, and there they stayed, unworn, impersonal. A maid wheeled in the tea wagon, and Henrietta's firm heels sounded in the hall. "Catherine! Good for you." Henrietta clapped her shoulder as she passed. "Afraid something might detain you." She shook off her heavy English coat, and went briskly to pouring tea. Her close hat had flattened her fine light hair above her temples, giving additional plump serenity to her face. "That's all, Susie," she told the maid. "If there are any calls for me, take them. I am undisturbed for one hour now." "Ah, this is great!" She stretched her feet toward the humming gas log; shining toes, ankles slim even in the gray spats. "I suppose you have a mission, since you take the time to come down here to-day. But whatever it is, I am glad to see you." Catherine sipped at the tea. The hot, clear fragrance was an auger, releasing words. "Shrewd guess, Henry." She smiled. "I want advice." "Help yourself." Henrietta's teeth closed in her sandwich with relish. "And I wanted it from you," Catherine spoke slowly, "because I want advice that goes in my direction." "Kind we always want. Only kind we take." "Here it is." Catherine placed her tea cup on the wagon. "Just before Christmas Dr. Roberts asked me to go west, to make the first-hand study of the schools, you know. He gave me until to-morrow to decide." Henrietta's eyes, alert, sharp, over the edge of her cup, waited. "More money, for one thing. Reputation. Chance to show what I can do. But I have to be gone almost a month, I think. I decided at once that it was out of the question." "Why?" "That was a week ago." Catherine leaned forward. "In a fit of sentiment. And egoism. I thought they couldn't get along without me, of course. Then--no use to explain the particular eye-opener--I changed my mind. I began to wonder whether this wasn't a sort of test. To see how serious I am. About a job, I mean. Now! Advise me to go." "Of course, no one is really indispensable." Henrietta grinned. "No one. And what's a month?" "It seems a long time to leave the children." "Be good for them as well as you. Isn't Miss Kelly capable of handling them?" "I suppose so." "Most families would be improved by enforced separations," declared Henrietta. "They're too tight. Break 'em up. What does Charles say to this?" "He hasn't heard of it yet." "Decide first and then tell him, eh?" Henrietta drew out her eyeglasses, running her fingers absently along the black ribbon. "He won't approve, at first. But it is a test. You're right. Your first opportunity to enlarge your position. You'd be a fool not to go, Catherine."