Vow of Obedience Read Free Page B

the duties of lay sister,’ Sister Joan said, curbing her enthusiasm prudently. ‘I must warn you that my cooking isn’t very good – and that’s an understatement.’
    ‘We are always in need of extra penances,’ Mother Dorothy said, her mouth twitching slightly. ‘Fortunately Sister Teresa can cook. As novice she must not, of course, take her full place in the activities of the community until she has made her perpetual vows. However she can be of use in the kitchen.’
    ‘Thank you, Mother.’
    ‘Your things will be moved to the lay sister’s cell,’ Mother Dorothy said, making the small gesture that signified the end of the interview.
    ‘May I have leave to ride over to the school before chapel?’ Sister Joan asked. ‘I’d like to pick up a few things and …’
    ‘Take a somewhat sentimental farewell? Be back in time for chapel, please. Punctuality hasn’t been waived during your absence.’
    ‘Yes, Mother. Thank you.’
    She waited until she was outside the parlour door before she allowed herself to grin with delight. Mother Dorothy, for all her prissy ways, knew her nuns. The prospect of being able to go shopping in the car without asking for special leave, of having some precious time to herself in which to let her mind roam while her hands busied themselves with mundane tasks.
    ‘So you’re back.’ Sister Perpetua, reddish eyebrows arched, clumped through from the back premises. ‘Has Mother Prioress told you?’
    ‘About the school being closed? Yes, it was a shock.’
    ‘Trust the government for that,’ Sister Perpetua said with a sniff. ‘Always sticking their fingers in the pie.’
    ‘But I am to take over the duties of lay sister.’
    ‘Leaving me free to get on with my infirmary and leaving you free to do the cooking? I call that a mixed blessing.’
    ‘Sister Teresa is to do most of the cooking,’ Sister Joan assured her.
    ‘Then my pills and potions won’t be needed so often,’ Sister Perpetua said. ‘So how was Scotland?’
    ‘Beautiful,’ Sister Joan said simply. ‘I painted some pictures there.’
    ‘Let’s hope Mother allows us to hang one of them up somewhere then. Where are you going now?’
    ‘Over to the school to give Lilith some exercise. Then I’ll move my things down to the lay cell.’
    ‘I can do that for you,’ the older nun offered. ‘You have your ride and get your bit of nostalgia over. Don’t stay out after chapel or you’ll blot your copy-book before you’ve been back five minutes.’
    ‘Sometimes,’ said Sister Joan, ‘I have the feeling that those words will be the first addressed to me by Saint Peter when I arrive at the heavenly gates.’
    Sister Perpetua gave a harsh bark of laughter. ‘And if you arrive at the other place, which God forbid, I daresay you’ll be certain of a welcome!’
    Sister Perpetua was evidently developing a sense of humour. Sister Joan smiled as she went on into the narrow passage off which the infirmary and dispensary opened before the large kitchen was reached.
    She paused to put her head in at the door of the infirmary but the two old nuns who spent most of their time there were both dozing and Sister Perpetua’s loud whisper restrained her.
    ‘Don’t go bouncing in on Sister Gabrielle and Sister Mary Concepta now, just when I’ve got them settled for a nice little nap before chapel.’
    Sister Joan put her hands on her heart and went on through the kitchen to the yard. Lilith, her head stuck over the half door, greeted her with a whinny.
    ‘Hello, girl. Did you miss your rides?’ Sister Joan lifted down the old saddle and led the pony out. It struck her that she was talking to the horse rather in the same way that Sister Perpetua had talked to her, as if she were ten years old instead of thirty-six. However, since only a sixth of her life had been spent in the religious life she suspected that in many ways she could fairly be regarded as a mere child.
    She swung herself up into the saddle and trotted