I believe the correct answers are: B) They deliberately ignored the suffering of the parish children, and D) They wanted to give the impression that they were performing their work.
Apparently, all the parish officials wanted was to preserve the appearance that everything was right, while keeping up with their corrupted practice of conceiving the problems and malpractice. Their duty was to make sure that the children were cared for, but they refused to do it, fully aware of the consequences.
Answer:
it leads readers to wonder what awful deed Great-aunt Gertrude must have. committed
