The sisters ran to the old mill. Cassie was really there: she sat on a pile of dirty hay and listened to the birds singing with a happy face. She was very cold: her bare feet were stiff and muddy. Catherine hastily wrapped Cassie in her woollen shawl, put her clogs on sister feet, and remained barefoot. When Kate scolded her affectionately, Cassie was embarrassed, but said that the birds had called her to see their nests and she could not refuse them.
– Don't ever do that again, Cassie! We were so worried about you! – Christine said reproachfully to her sister as they went home.
At home Cassie's feet were washed, she was laid on a mattress and wrapped in a woollen biting blanket.
– What about London? You haven't changed your mind? – Catherine asked Chris when they sat down to lunch.
Lunch was hot wheat porridge with a slice of black bread.
At her sister's mention of London, the image of the handsome Count of Draymore immediately flashed into Christine's mind, and she suddenly felt even more offended at how freely he could travel around England, while she, a poor peasant girl, had no money even to travel to London. But in spite of everything, and especially now that the Count had gone there, London attracted Christine even more: a tiny hope of meeting the landlord grew in her heart.
– No, I haven't changed my mind," Christine replied, as she ate the porridge that was the Glowford's daily diet and which she was already sick of.
– What about the money for the journey? – Kate asked, knowing full well that Christine would earn nothing in the village.
– Nothing yet, but I'll get the money, you'll see," she said, more determined than ever. – I'll leave here.
– Don't you think your futile endeavours are a sign from God that you must not leave Walsingham? – Catherine suggested.
– No, I don't. It is only you and father who see signs in everything. I don't think God dislikes us so much as to wish us into the poverty in which we already live.
Christine finished her porridge and went outside to wash her plate and spoon, and when she came back Catherine was already clearing the table.
– Sweep the floor," she said to Christine.
She clenched her teeth tightly: she didn't like to clean the house, and always did it by force, but Catherine looked at her sternly, the way she always did when Christine was stubborn, and that look made Christine go about her assigned chores. Christine sighed unhappily and began to sweep the floor, careful not to get any dirt on Cassie, who was lying on the mattress. Her soul was full of resentment at her older sister and the fact that she had never made Cassie clean the house. Their younger sister did nothing but sleep, eat, play and walk, a fact that depressed Christine, who felt the weight of her sister's authority. The pastor did not interfere much in the relations between his daughters, and he was more interested in the affairs of his congregation than in those of his house. Cassie was the only one he paid as much attention to as he could.