Charles came in with the children. Miss Kelly, discreetly, had left them at the steps. She's got the right idea, thought Catherine grimly. She's not going to be roped in for something she's not paid for. Letty's cheeks were peonies, her eyes bright stars, and her leggings were soaked with melted snow. "We had one grand time, didn't we, chicks!" Charles stamped out of his rubbers and shook off his snow-spattered coat. "Had a snow fight and Letty and I beat." "We landed some hum-dingers right in your neck, anyways," said Spencer. "Hum-dings in neck!" shrieked Letty. "Hum-gings in neck!" "You all look as if you'd landed snow everywhere." Catherine shooed Marian and Spencer into their rooms in quest of dry clothing, ran back to the kitchen to lower the gas under the potatoes, and returned to strip Letty of her damp outer layers. "Even my shirt is wet." Marian giggled, shaking her bloomers until bits of snow flew over the rug. "It was awful fun, Muvver. And we coasted belly-bump. Is that a nice word to say?" "And now we are starved, like any army after a fight," came a sturdy bellow from Charles. Bedraggled and glowing, warmly fragrant--Catherine laughed at them as she tugged the pink flannel pajamas onto Letty's animated legs. "There!" she kissed her, gave the tousled yellow floss a swift brush, and carried her into the dining room to set her safely behind the bar of her high-chair. "Supper and then to bed you go, after this exciting day." "What's this about the dusky Flora?" Charles came into the kitchen. "I'll tell you about it later." Catherine spoke hastily. Tired as she was, their home-coming had given her the old sweet rush of pleasure, of safety, of possession. She wanted to keep it untouched, free of that horror and pity. * * * * * Much later, when the children were in bed, Charles strolled into the kitchen and reached for a dish towel. Catherine looked up at him as he rubbed a tumbler with slow care. "Like old times, isn't it, eh?" He set the glass on the shelf. Catherine swallowed her sigh. "Me wiping dishes, and telling you about what I've been doing--" Was he deliberately wistful? "You needn't wait for dishes, need you, to talk?" Catherine's smile blunted the slight edge in her words. "Somehow, nowadays, there never seems any chance. Nights you have to go to sleep, and day times you aren't here." "Last night you went to sleep." "Oh, last night!" Charles with a wave of his towel sent last night into the limbo of things best forgotten. "Well, tell me. What have you been doing? To-day, for instance." "I had two interviews this morning." Charles paused. "With two different publishers' representatives. They are keen about this new book on tests. Ready to make me an offer right now, without even seeing an outline. Pretty good, eh?" "Fine! That's proof of your standing, isn't it?"