'Why, yes. I've heard of her often from Miss Trent. Isn't she a good deal with Ackroyd?'
'Can't say. She's not a bad lot. She's going to take my Bessie down to Eastbourne at the end of the week.'
'But why don't you go yourself? It would do you good.'
Bunce shrugged his shoulders.
'No, I can't go myself. Just for the child's sake, I have to put up with that kind of thing, but I don't like it. It's charity, after all, and I couldn't face those people at the home.'
'What home is it?' Grail asked. He knew, but out of delicacy wished the explanation to come from Bunce.
'I don't know as it has any name. It seems to be in connection with the Children's Hospital. The matron, or whatever you call her, is a Mrs. Ormonde.'
'Oh, I know about her!' Gilbert exclaimed. 'She's a friend of Mr. Egremont's. He's spoken of her once or twice to me. You needn't be afraid of meeting her. She's a lady who has given up her own house for this purpose: as good a woman, I believe, as lives.'
'Well,' said Bunce, doggedly, 'I'm thankful to her, but I can't face her. What's this, I'd like to know?'
His eye caught something that looked like a small pamphlet lying near the fireplace. He stooped to pick it up.