The Maidens of Walsingham
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– It's incredible! What a plight! I must help them. I can't bear the fact that there is a kingdom of poverty next to such a splendidly rich manor of Rivershold! But, Mr. Morris, all this has led me to a thought: the parson was absolutely opposed to Miss Cassandra's treatment-" And the Viscount, frowning, fell silent.
– 'That is true, sir, but where are you going with this? – the doctor wondered.
– Perhaps I can persuade Miss Catherine to let me take Cassie to London and treat her here," the noble lord finished his thought in a firm tone.
– For God's sake, sir! How can you think of such a thing now that the girls have lost their father? You can't use this tragic situation for your own good! It's inhuman! Just think of what these bright souls are going through! – Mr. Morris was indignant and not afraid to express his displeasure at the Viscount's intentions.
– You are quite right, Mr. Morris, it is low and cynical of me," he agreed, after carefully considering his conduct. – The girls should be given time to heal and rest.
– Exactly, sir, and in spite of your noble intentions, I am glad to be able to reason with you," said the doctor. These words did not hurt the Viscount's pride, for he had a high regard for the person of Mr. Morris, with whom the lord's late father had been a friend. – 'As far as I know, Miss Cassie was very much attached to her father. How she must be suffering, poor girl!
– But you wanted to adopt her. And, on account of the parson's death, you can now put it into effect, at the right time, of course," the Viscount reminded him. – Don't mistake my reasoning for cynicism, doctor. I deeply regret Pastor Glowford's death, but I am also thinking of poor Miss Cassandra's fate.
– Ah, yes, of course, but I would not wish to begin the adoption process now that the lovely girl is in great sadness. Especially, Miss Catherine's consent would be required, and I don't think she would so readily allow me to take Cassie away from her and tear her away from her family. I rightly suppose it would take long persuasion and good reasoning to get Miss Catherine to agree to this step, for she has been bringing up Cassie since she was born, and she cannot bear the thought of her beloved sister not being with her. Cassie and Catherine are very attached to each other. Miss Catherine's love for her sister is so deep that she even rejects marriage in order not to be separated from her sister.
– We shall certainly help them… When the right time comes, of course. But I wish to be of some assistance to them immediately.
– Mr. Pilough has written that Walsingham is in urgent need of a new parson, and his arrival must be as soon as possible, for the late Glowford is to be buried according to the laws of Anglicanism. Besides, the Walsingham people are in desperate need of a parson: they are lost without a pastor and church meetings," said the doctor, remembering his friend's message. – Mr. Pilough has also informed Lord Draymore of this, but I am aware that he is not in London at the moment and cannot do his duty regarding the problem.
– You are correctly informed, Mr. Morris: Colin is in Bristol. So, we should approach the head of the church and send a new pastor to Walsingham. But something tells me that a young seminarian, fresh out of the seminary, will be sent to the village. And it is unlikely that the young man in question will be happy to be sent into the wilderness, far from the capital," said the Viscount rightly. – But I will write to the church today. It is long enough since the parson's death, and he must be buried no later than tomorrow evening. I beg your pardon, doctor, I will not delay this important matter. – He rose from the table, his companion did likewise, they shook hands and parted.
Viscount Wilworth kept his word: going up to his study, he wrote the necessary letter and sent it off with a messenger. The answer to the petition came the same evening: the clergy had appointed a new parson, Mr. Litley, to Walsingham, assuring the Viscount that the clergyman would do a good job, and that he was on his way to the village. The Viscount wished to meet in person the person who would replace the late Parson Glowford, but was unable to do so, but he was not dismayed, for he was soon to come to Rivershold and Walsingham himself to visit the Glowford girls and offer his condolences. Viscount was still full of hope that the Count of Draymore would sell his estate to him and waited for a letter or telegram from his friend: it was pointless to go to Walsingham now, when the Glowford girls were in black mourning and could not recover from the loss of their beloved father. Viscount Wilworth himself sent a note to Lord Draymore's mansion, asking for the Earl's address in Bristol, but the messenger returned with the news that the Count had left no address for correspondence, and that the Lord would not return until August.
Not wasting any time, the day after Mr. Morris's visit the Viscount found a well-known Dutch psychiatrist, Mr. Henrik Liabrist, consulted him about Miss Cassandra's illness and inquired as to the possibility of her full or partial recovery. The story of a grown-up girl with the mind and consciousness of a child interested the psychiatrist, and he asked the Viscount to bring her to see him.
– I am sorry, but Miss Glowford is not in London at present, and will not be here for about a month," replied the Viscount.
– 'That's a pity,' he said briefly. – I think I can help the girl.
– Do you think you can overcome her illness? – The Viscount asked: the psychiatrist's words gave him hope.
– Yes, I do. You say her development has been neglected? But can she even read?
– Her father thought it would be a great sin to treat her. He was a very religious man.
– 'That's a dark thing,' Mr. Liabrist grinned at that.
– 'But I suppose she was taught to read: her father was a well-educated and competent man.
– How far from London does your Miss Glowford reside?
– Norfolk. There's a lost village called Walsingham.
– Bring the girl to me and I will examine her.
– I am truly grateful to you for agreeing to help, but I cannot get Miss Glowford to London for the rest of the summer. What if we came to see you in a month or two? The girl's father died the other day, and she is deeply distressed and hard to bear.
– You think rightly, sir: after a heavy loss a man necessarily needs time, but how much, there are many opinions on that. Every man needs the comfort of time as much as his nature compels him, and Miss Glowford's brain is a very fragile one, so there is no hurry to take her to me. But long practice shows that mentally retarded people do not understand all the distress and bitterness of loss," Mr. Liabrist explained gravely to his interlocutor.