The Maidens of Walsingham
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– "…Miss Christine Glowford suggested that the ground around the church should be beautified by planting a few beds of flowers, but I think this is a bad idea, for if flowers are planted in the midst of the restoration, they will be lost under the layers of dust which will settle on them like icing sugar on cakes. I advised the girl to plant the beds after the restoration, but the work is dragging on and there seems to be no end to it, and I am sorry for the wasted labour of such a nice girl as Miss Glowford…" – Mr. Morris wrote.
"Lovely Christine… I'd forgotten all about her. Yes, by heavens, she is unbelievably good looking! Of course, her half-witted sister is even more lovely, but because of her illness loses her value," the Count thought with a sneer, remembering his first impression of Miss Cassie's appearance. – It is a pity that the beautiful Christine was not born into the high society of England, or I would have courted her."
– You are right, Dominic, the circumstances are very sad," said the earl, with a playful frown, and laid the letters on the table.
– The fate of Walsingham is in your hands, my friend," the viscount reminded him. – These poor people are relying on you.
– I know that. Well, I will help them.
– And when will you finally take decisive action? It's been over a month since we left the village.
– I've been distracted by pressing matters, so the fate of my peasants has paled for a while before what I've had to deal with here," the Count replied, unhappy at his friend's interference.
– Pardon me, but I am well aware of your 'urgent matters'. While you were amusing yourself with the ladies, it rained in Walsingham, and the Glowford house was flooded," said Viscount Wilworth reproachfully, watching the expression on his friend's face.
– That's a pity," he said briefly.
– Colin, be serious: the house flooded, and the family slept in the neighbour's hayloft, next to the pigs. – The Vicomte was displeased with the Count's indifferent and even mocking tone.
– I hope none of them caught a cold. – When the Count heard of the downpour, he thought of Christine: in his imagination he saw her lying in the hayloft, under the roof of the old barn, the rain pounding furiously on her, covered with a tattered blanket, and he felt a chill.
– 'Fortunately, not,' the viscount answered him. – The village has begun work in the fields, so you have a great opportunity to fix up the cottages without disturbing the peasants. However, I'm curious to know how the restoration is going? Any progress?
– I confess I have not yet read Mr. Pilough's reports. – The Count was not the least bit embarrassed. – If you are interested in them, you can read them yourself.
– Gladly," replied the viscount. – But may I ask, what has been distracting you all this month?
– I have been having an affair with an actress," replied the Count briefly. He opened the drawer of his desk, took out a thick stack of unopened letters and gave them to his friend. – I think, Dominic, that you, too, would do well to get a permanent pet," he advised the viscount with a chuckle.
"It would be lovely to have a beauty like the peasant Christine as my pet. Or herself. She would be infinitely grateful to me for my kindness and patronage. But no, it's unacceptable: me and a peasant! What a scandal would break out in society!" – ran through the Count's mind.
– What you need is not a pet, but a wife," Viscount Wilworth again advised him. – Fortunately, England is full of ladies worthy of your title.
– When I consider marrying, I shall choose one of them," said the Count laughingly. – But I am afraid there are no virgins as pure as those in the wilderness of Walsingham.
– Well, give Walsingham a decent life: this patronage will cost you less than what you spend on amusements and lose at the races," said the viscount, seriously, displeased at his friend's frivolous phrases. – I'll see you tomorrow.
The friends graciously bade farewell, and the viscount, full of conflicting feelings, got into his carriage and went to his mansion, taking with him the letters from the architect. When he reached home, he retired to his study, perused Mr. Pilough's reports, and was dissatisfied: the work on the church was progressing slowly, and the architect complained that it was a waste of time, and urged Lord Draymore to send London builders to Walsingham, for "with these village lads he gets nothing but nerve trouble." Mr. Pilough also reported the extreme necessity of stone roads being erected in the village, as during the rains it sinks in mud, and gave a brief description of the means of transporting the peasants on such days, which caused the Viscount's face to show a mocking but full of disapproval of this dreadful situation. Before his acquaintance with Walsingham, Viscount Wilworth had not even a suspicion that such dreadful living conditions could exist on Earth, especially in his beloved England, and not so far from London!
After reading Mr. Pilough's reports, the Viscount decided to insist that the Count of Draymore take notice of the plight of the Walsingham people, and he also had an irresistible urge to write to Pastor Glowford, suggesting that Miss Cassandra be seen by a London psychiatrist. The Viscount knew the parson's categorical attitude to Cassie, but he hoped that on this occasion prudence would suppress the church servant's unnecessary religiosity.
Chapter 10
That same day Mr. Morris returned to London. He immediately sent a servant with a note to Viscount Wilworth, requesting an audience at any time convenient to the lord. The Viscount replied at once, and the servant returned to the doctor, with the invitation. The doctor decided not to delay his visit and went to the viscount's house that same evening. The noble lord was extremely surprised at the doctor's haste, but received him kindly, invited him to play a game of golf (as it was not late), and at the same time wanted to ask the doctor about the news from Walsingham. Dr Morris readily accepted the Viscount's invitation to play, and they went to the green behind the latter's large mansion (the lord was fond of golf). Behind the gentlemen, stealthily, like a shadow, a servant followed, carrying a basket of balls and clubs.