Both gentlemen were dressed in fine, expensive travelling suits, which made them an incredible curiosity in the eyes of the unpretentious, old rags clad Walsinghamians. The lords were quite young (Pastor Glowford, a judge of such things, gave them no more than thirty-five years of age), handsome and dapperly dressed. The peasants gazed at them with rapt attention and whispered, but the pastor called them loudly to return to the service and to sing a hymn of praise to the Lord.
The congregation, as one, rose from their pews. The lords who had arrived did likewise. The poor people had realised that it was unseemly to gaze at the noble lords and now carefully averted their curious glances, but the girls continued to sneak glances at the gentlemen. The three old women looked at the lords shamelessly and frowned, thinking that this must be the way the rich birds dressed, which, of course, they had never seen before.
One of the lords looked round the church and the congregation, scrutinising their faces.
– Who is that grey-haired old man with the stick? – he whispered to one of the young men standing nearby.
– That's Clif, our watchman," the young man replied cautiously, pleased and honoured to be spoken to by such a noble man.
– Watchman? And what does he guard? – The lord asked with a chuckle.
– The old mill," replied the lad.
– And who is that lady surrounded by children?
– That's our laundress Lilith.
– All those children are hers?
– Yes, she has eight children.
Of course, the country lad had no idea that a polite and respectful "sir" was required.
The gentleman smiled and continued looking at the villagers.
– How many children are there in the village? – He asked again.
– God knows. A lot! – The boy replied, shrugging his shoulders. – Ask the pastor, he's an educated man, not like us.
The curious gentleman's companion grinned: it seemed to him that he was in the Middle Ages, for the peasants were so horribly dressed, and the dilapidated church so poor.
– It seems to me, my friend, that with the manor you have become a great burden," he whispered to his noble friend.
– Yes, that's true," he said with a mocking smile.
– But you can change all that. These people seem to be no different from medieval manners.
– That's likely. If not manners, then religion.