The Maidens of Walsingham

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 u

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.

The Viscount and Mr. Morris went to the green (as it was impossible to arrange a real golf course in the centre of London), chose a club, took the balls and made the first shot.

– Now, Mr. Morris, I suppose you have come to talk about Walsingham? – The viscount asked decisively, watching his ball roll across the grass. – I have perused your letters and telegrams, and I must say I am impressed by your responsibility and detail.

– Thank you, sir," said the flattered doctor modestly.

– How did you spend your time at the estate? – The Viscount inquired.

– Fascinating, sir. I was not bored at all: I watched the restoration, the life in the village, I talked with Mr. Pilough, we often exchanged views, and, besides, I had daily intercourse with the lovely Miss Cassandra," the doctor said readily.

Viscount Wilworth gri

– I see you are very fond of this girl," the lord said with a smile. – You devote a whole page to her in every letter you write.

– Yes, sir, what can I say, she has charmed me. I have even thought it would be nice to have a daughter like Miss Cassie, but healthy, of course. I feel genuinely sorry for her and am thrown into real horror by the conditions in which she spends her whole life. Even the slum-dwellers of London don't live as miserably as the people of Walsingham," sighed Mr. Morris, and took his shot.

– You are quite right, Mr. Morris," said the viscount: he felt the same pity and sympathy for Cassie as the doctor. – But I'm afraid the villagers are not only ignorant of their poverty but cherish it. Moreover, on this ground I met with the strongest opposition: I offered Pastor Glowford to rebuild his house, or to move his family into a new one, but the old man refused, just as he refused my wish to cure Miss Cassandra. Besides, the parson made it very clear to me that he would never accept help from anyone.

– Did he, sir? What a pity! Faith has clouded his judgement, if he does not wish his daughter to recover! – replied the doctor, who had not previously realised that the parson was such a strange man.

– I agree. But not only he, but the whole village breathes Anglicanism. It's the first time I've seen such fervent followers of the faith.

– Their faith means everything to them. It helps these poor people to endure the hardships of life. Sir, you have not been in the village beyond the church, so you have no idea how supportive their faith is, since they have not yet left their homes. I think in their case religion is an indispensable thing, it is a cure, for if the Walsinghamese had not such a strong faith as they have, they would die of black e

Mr. Morris's reflections made the Viscount feel uneasy: why did the Government and the King make no effort to rid England of such "rotten places"? Perhaps, thought the Viscount, it is convenient for the rich lords to be "ignorant" of such terrible poverty, "impossible" in the prosperous kingdom of England. In "rotten places" people are born, suffer all their lives, leave offspring and die, and their offspring experience what their parents and ancestors experienced. It's a regression. Civilisation has stagnated there or has not reached there at all. Meanwhile, London is prospering, the king and nobles are getting richer, the sciences and the economy are advancing. But the people who remained there, in the wilderness, out of sight, were completely forgotten, as if they were a heavy load, a burden, rubbish, unpleasant for the great England.

– But why didn't the former owner take care of them? – Mr. Morris asked the Viscount in a disapproving tone.

– I think he was uninformed about Walsingham. The late lord acquired the estate at a very young age, but he was seldom there, so I suppose he had no idea that there was a village near Rivershold," replied the Viscount. – But I have no doubt that my friend the Count of Draymore will rectify this unpleasant situation and bring happiness and prosperity to the Walsingham people.

Here the Viscount was being a bit deceitful: after his morning conversation with his friend, he suspected that he had no intention of returning to the village and keeping the promises he had made to its inhabitants. But Lord Wilworth hoped that he could persuade the Count of Draymore and set him on the path of honour.

– I share your hope, sir, because Miss Cassandra's fate touches and worries me deeply. If I had the opportunity, I would adopt that lovely girl at once," said Mr. Morris gravely.

– Are you so attached to her? – asked the Viscount, deeply surprised at the doctor's statement.

– Yes, sir, I would adopt her, for Mrs. Morris and I have no children… But it is impossible to do so with her father alive, and the girl is not likely to agree to leave her father and sisters, for she is so attached to them. But even in such circumstances I would try to take Miss Cassie to London and develop her mind, for there, in the wilderness, she will perish: the poor girl will not be able to take care of herself, because, except for her family, she is needed by no one… Such a one. Yes, the Walsingham people are religious and love her, but none of them will take her in if she loses her father and sisters, for the others don't know how to feed their numerous children, and Miss Cassie is not capable of anything, not even of herding cattle.