Then he spoke a word or two to the children, and Bunce led him down to the door.

They shook hands.
'I shall see you at the library soon, I hope,' Egremont said.

'You must give me your best help in making it known.' The words sounded so hollow in his own ears that, as he turned to go along the dark street, he could have laughed at himself scornfully.
As Bunce reascended, someone met and passed him, hurrying with light feet and woman's garments silently.
'That you, Miss Nancarrow ?' he asked, for there was no light on the staircase.
'No,' came a muffled reply.

'Miss Nancarrow isn't in.' It was the voice of Thyrza Trent.

Bunce did not recognise it, for he knew her too slightly.
She had come to the house not long before Egremont.