The Maidens of Walsingham - стр. 31
Later, "A wedding is being celebrated in the village today. Mr. Pilough and I have been kindly invited to the celebration. I am looking forward to socialising with the lovely pet. I leave for London tomorrow morning."
Satisfied with the news that Cassie was well, Viscount Wilworth decided to visit his friend the Count of Draymore to enquire about the progress of the restoration of the church at Walsingham. He collected a packet of letters from Mr. Morris to show his friend the plight of his peasants (the Viscount suspected that the Count had forgotten all about them), got into a carriage and set off for the west end of London, where the Earl's large mansion was situated. The Viscount found his friend bored and in a bad mood: he had recently lost a decent sum of money at the races.
– It is interesting how you are concerned with the fate of this village," said the Count of Draymore ironically, after the Viscount had informed him of the purpose of his unexpected visit.
– I don't understand your indifference to the fate of these poor people," said the Viscount, and handed him Dr Morris's letters. – Here, read them.
– What are these? – The Count was surprised, taking the papers.
– Mr. Morris's letters. Read them, Colin, it will do you good to know what is going on in your property.
The Count grinned, hurt by his friend's reproach: he had indeed forgotten his promises to the parson and his parishioners, and had confined himself to the rebuilding of the church. The life of the capital quickly removed from his mind thoughts of blessing his peasants and the beautiful Christine: a series of receptions and balls at court decorated his life, and, except for pleasure and entertainment, the Count thought of nothing, so he did not even open the envelopes with letters from Mr. Pilough, who regularly sent him reports on the work done in the church. But, to respect his friend, the Count ran his eyes over Mr. Morris's letters, but he read inattentively, through a line, but when he saw the name of the beautiful Christine Glowford, he began to read that part of the letter thoughtfully.
– "…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.