Agnes took John into the house and ordered a hot meal be prepared and water heated for a bath. As he ate his meal, he told her about his experience of trying to get home. He told her about the landowners that would not help him and of the peasants that did help. He particularly told her about a little, old woman who had so little, but shared so much.
'Agnes, tell me aboot the bat'le and 'ow the church received damage,' he requested after he had finished telling her about his travels. She related to him the battle as told to her from those who had been in Stamford and also as she had seen from the estate. 'Your fine new steeple still stands, boot there is much other damage,' she said concerning the church. 'Will you rebuild it?' she asked.
'Agnes, me luv. I do nay only wish to repair the church, boot I will build a 'ome for the elderly poor.'
Agnes looked at John in surprise. 'Who takes care of them if they 'ave no family?' John continued.
Agnes was indeed surprised. She had never known John to be concerned with common people. He had always considered it God's will that they occupied the station that they did in society. He had only considered them important if it met his needs to get wool to market, or to care for his property. She had long hoped for a softening of his heart. She knew that he was a good man, but he had seemed too occupied with his own wants to see the needs of others.
'You want to build an alms'ouse?' Agnes asked.
'Yes, me luv, an alms'ouse,' John replied with excitement. 'I can see it clairly in me mind. We will build it next to the All Saints' Church and we will ensure its endowment for years to comb.'
'John, I think that is a wonderful plan,' said Agnes and she hugged and kissed him. 'Boot, you do nay smell gud. Please, go and bathe,' she said with a smile.
'I must go and see the All Saints' Church,' John said urgently and he stood as though he would leave the house right then.
'You will nay until you 'ave bathed,' insisted Agnes.
'Yes, me luv,' said John and he kissed her on the forehead.
'John, there is sumething that I did nay tell you,' Agnes said in a serious tone.
'Whot is it, me luv?'
'It is the old priest of All Saints'. 'e is deed John,' replied Agnes in a somber tone.
'Deed? Whot 'appened to 'im?' asked John.
''e was killed during the bat'le. I am nay certain 'ow.'
John's eyes moistened and he said, 'That is so sad. I luved that man. 'e 'as been me priest all of me life.'
'I know, me luv. I am soory.'
'I did nay treat 'im as well as I shuld 'ave. I was cross with 'im regarding the capstone of the steeple.'
'I am sure that 'e knew that you luved 'im,' Agnes said reassuringly.
'Who is the priest now?' asked John.
'They 'ave nay named a priest yet, boot they 'ave assigned a very yung priest to oversee the rebuilding of the church. Rumor is that if 'e does well, 'e will be the new priest.'
''ave you met 'im?' asked John.
'Aye, 'e is very yung, boot 'e is very friendly and kind. I think that the people are starting to like 'im. sume say that 'e is too yung.'
______
James stepped over the rubble inside the All Saints' Church. He had been assigned to oversee the rebuilding of the church, but was having no success with funding. The Abbey was far to poor itself and the people of Stamford either didn't have money because of the war, or some said that Stamford already had plenty of churches and there was little reason to rebuild. He had also heard rumors that many thought that he was too young to undertake such a task and that even if he managed it and was assigned as the priest, he was too young for that also.
James knew that his one hope of rebuilding lay in John Darby. He knew that the Darby's loved the All Saints' Church and despite the fact that it was not the biggest or the most ornate, they seemed dedicated to it. He hoped that the commitment that they displayed in the building of the steeple would extend to the rebuilding of the church. He felt that it was a sign from God that the steeple still stood. Surely, God