– Your words are full of sound logic. But I have a question. How, with her family so religious, was Miss Cassandra born with an unsound mind? Did any misfortune happen to her in her childhood? – asked the Viscount.

– I was also interested in that question, sir, so I had a conversation with a peasant: he told me that before Miss Cassy was born, the parson was a drunkard. He drank a lot and was hardly ever seen sober, so in those days his wife and daughters were fed by the villagers. It was during that unfortunate time that Mrs. Glowford became pregnant, and I believe Miss Cassie's disease of the mind is related to the parson's excessive drinking at the time of her conception.

The Viscount listened intently to the doctor and frowned his eyebrows more and more. It pained him to realise what a wounded and untimely fruit the lovely girl had been. That's where her child's mind came from! So that was the sin the pastor himself was talking about!

– It's a sad story. I now recall the pastor telling me that Cassie was his reminder of his past sins. Poor girl! And she is responsible for her father's sin, and he won't let her correct it! How unjust that is! – exclaimed the Viscount, somewhat angry at the parson's behaviour. – But does Miss Cassie realise the fact that she is ill?

– No, sir, she does not even suspect it: Miss Cassie thinks herself a six-year-old girl, she plays with the neighbourhood children and communicates with them on the level of their mental development. The day before yesterday there was a wedding in the village, and Miss Cassie was as chatty as a canary, but all her words and thoughts were those of a child. And when the young ones kissed, she shut her eyes tight and giggled with the rest of the girls," Mr. Morris sadly narrated. – The girl knows neither that she is sick nor that she is beautiful. It broke my heart to look at the lovely face of a lovely grown-up girl, but to hear her talk like a child.

The Viscount was silent, but his desire to play golf had gone: he was thinking deeply of poor Cassie, and his soul was hurt by the doctor's words that he, the Viscount, had not been further into the village than the church, and was not acquainted with the real situation in which the girl lived.

"Shouldn't I buy his estate from Colin? Then I could look after Cassie and the people of Walsingham. A favourable bargain should be suggested to him, and no matter what sum he names," decided the viscount. With every thought of Cassie, the desire for her welfare only increased.

The next day Viscount Wilworth paid the Count a visit, made him an offer, but received a polite but firm refusal.

– But, Colin, you do not like this estate: you have told me more than once that its distance from London makes it unattractive to your pleasure-seeking nature," insisted the Viscount, surprised at his friend's reluctance to give up the "burden" that Walsingham and its inhabitants were to the Earl.

– There are days when I am glad to be lost in the wilderness," replied the Count of Draymore, amazed in turn at the Viscount's persistence in trying to buy his estate, with the village to go with it. – What is it that has so affected you about this village? Was it Cassie, that sickly little angel, which attracted you so much?

– I've already explained how I feel about Cassie! – The Viscount replied sharply to this accusation, once again angered by his friend's unworthy assumption.

– For the sake of that mad peasant girl, you want to buy back from me Rivershold, which is worth a lot of money! Give up your defences, Dominic: what intentions have you for her?

The cold callous heart of the Count could not believe in the sincerity of the good intentions of other hearts.

– I wish to help the Glowfords, but not only them, but all the Walsinghamese, forgotten by the world and the king! You are indifferent to the fate of these people, but I cannot sleep at ease knowing that in a village forgotten by all, children and adults are dying without knowing happiness! It's a burden to you, so I ask you again to consider my offer. I'm prepared to buy your estate at any price you name, and if you wish, I'll cover the cost of restoring the church.

– Dominic, you, Viscount, are not supposed to have such a sensitive and kind heart," said the Count of Draymore grudgingly: he had always thought his friend too sentimental, but he did not wish to take advantage of his kindness and sell his unprofitable estate with all its inhabitants to the Viscount. – But, since you insist so fervently, I promise to think it over again, but I will let you know my final decision in a month at the earliest. – He held out his hand to his friend.

The earl's answer did not satisfy Viscount Wilworth, who wished for the speedy welfare of the poor and Cassie, but he had no other choice but to agree to the earl's condition.

– It is agreed," he answered firmly, and shook his friend's hand.

At this the friends parted, but if the Viscount was deeply grieved by the situation, his friend was amused by it. This was the first time that the difference in the characters of Viscount Wilworth and the Count of Draymore had brought a coldness and disapproval of each other's intentions into their long-standing friendship.

June passed at Walsingham just as it passed every year: inconspicuous, routine, full of anxiety and work in the fields. During the summer, all the adult peasants of the village worked together to cultivate the large field where the potatoes grew. The work in the field was hard: day after day it was necessary to check every leaf, every stem and the ground around to find and eradicate the voracious beetle. This summer it was even more difficult to get rid of the pest, for the beetles were so numerous, as if God had punished the poor Walsinghamites for some great sin. But in spite of their work in the fields, the peasants attended all the matins, vespers and Sunday services in the church. Pastor Glowford himself continued to work on the restoration of the church, and his daughters, with the exception of Cassie, worked in the fields: as Cassie was of little use, the peasants unanimously relieved her of this duty, but sometimes the girl would come and put beetles on sharp sticks for amusement. Mostly, however, Cassie spent her days running around with the village children in the summer fields and woods.

Christine came home exhausted from her hard physical labour and went straight to bed after supper. Catherine, on the other hand, did not seem to be tired at all: she remained full of vigour and activity, and would not go to bed until all the housework was done and breakfast for tomorrow morning was prepared. Almost every evening, when twilight fell, Kate took Cassie, and the sisters went to the river to wash their dresses: Kate concentrated on washing clothes, while Cassie ran excitedly over the stones and wet her feet in the water. Having got rid of the pressing household chores and finally getting to bed, the next day Catherine would get up early in the morning to wake her father and sisters, feed them, dress Cassie and go with Christine to the field.

The Glowford sisters were careful to keep their bodies clean and washed their hair every other day: usually at noon or in the evening when the girls came home for meals. The girls also took good care of their teeth, and every morning and before going to bed, they rinsed their teeth with chamomile infusion. In summer the Glowfords bathed in the river like all the peasants.

Cassie often thought of Mr. Morris, who had entertained her a month before, and sometimes asked her father and Catherine if the "good doctor" was coming, but they could not tell her, for they did not know the answer.

Pastor Glowford was distressed that the restoration of the church had been delayed so long, and he could see Mr. Pilough's irritation at being stuck in this "hole," as he called Walsingham, for two months, so he tried not to cross him.