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.

– 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.