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in a consultative capacity. This too was denied him by Walsh ang
Wiseman. Walsh was fearful of scandal and Wiseman was protective
of the new congregation and of Cornelia. The fact that Cornelia was
only a few miles from Pierce at Alton Towers—in the same ecclesias.
tical district and under the authority of the same bishop—was dye
to Wiseman who had installed Cornelia at Derby. It is also possible
that because of his involvement in Rome, Pierce considered himself
a co-founder of the Society with some responsibility for it. If this
were the case he would be resentful of Wiseman’s usurpation of this
role. It is also possible that Pierce suspected that it was Wiseman
who was really behind Cornelia’s call to England. And he may haye
been right. One can imagine a sort of gentleman's understanding
between Shrewsbury and Wiseman to manipulate the destiny of
both spouses, for the glory of God, to be sure, and even to induce
the Pope to confirm Cornelia’s mission.
Soon the green monster of jealousy came upon the scene with
pride atits side. As husband, Pierce had, until the separation, author.
ity over his wife. That was the prevailing concept of the relationship
between spouses. Then it came about that Cornelia, separated from
this conjugal authority, freely put herself under the ecclesiastical
authority of another man—Wiseman, seen by some as founder of
the congregation that he, Pierce, helped bring to birth. From then
on, the well-being and future of the Society had nothing to do with
him. Excluded from what was happening in the convent, even from
Cornelia’ reception of the veil, and forbidden by Wiseman to see
his wife whom he had seen every week in Rome, Pierce rebelled.
He went clandestinely to Derby as the anonymous companion to
Dr Winters, first chaplain at Alton Towers. Cornelia arrived in the
parlor and was taken completely by surprise. She had not seen
Pierce since Rome and had to mask the intensity of her reaction in
front of Dr Winter.
Then the situation became more acute, thanks to Emily. She was
concerned lest Wiseman should think that Cornelia was a party to
the deception, so she told him what had happened and relayed to
Pierce the bishop’s strong disapproval of his conduct. (It is impor
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