The boy handed him a letter, merely mentioning that he had been entrusted with it by an old lady whom he did not know, and who had given him no instructions to wait for an answer.
Such incidents as these were not uncommon in Mr.Godfrey's large experience as a promoter of public charities.

He let the boy go, and opened the letter.
The handwriting was entirely unfamiliar to him.

It requested his attendance, within an hour's time, at a house in Northumberland Street, Strand, which he had never had occasion to enter before.

The object sought was to obtain from the worthy manager certain details on the subject of the Mothers'-Small-Clothes-Conversion-Society, and the information was wanted by an elderly lady who proposed adding largely to the resources of the charity, if her questions were met by satisfactory replies.

She mentioned her name, and she added that the shortness of her stay in London prevented her from giving any longer notice to the eminent philanthropist whom she addressed.
Ordinary people might have hesitated before setting aside their own engagements to suit the convenience of a stranger.