"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?"