Vow of Penance (17 page)

‘We shall pay off the taxi and walk the rest of the way‚’ Mother Dorothy said as the convent gates hove into view. ‘Can you manage, Sister?’

‘Yes, I think so.’

Under the gaze of the taxi driver she struggled out of the vehicle and set her foot on the ground. It throbbed but was less painful than before.

‘I can manage fine, Mother Dorothy,’ she assured her. ‘I’ll look on it as an extra bit of penance.’

‘One moment!’ Mother Dorothy held up her hand. ‘Driver, take Sister Joan all the way to the back door, will you? In you get again, Sister! I’ll speak to you later. Come along, Sister Perpetua!’

Sister Joan sat in solitary state as the taxi proceeded up the drive. She knew only too well what Mother Dorothy would be saying to her later.

‘Penance isn’t a label we wear to trumpet forth our sanctity, Sister. Even less do we announce our penitential practices in front of other people.’

‘This do you, Sister?’ The driver turned his head to enquire as they reached the yard.

‘Thank you, yes. This is fine.’

‘Bit of a tartar, isn’t she?’ He jerked his head back.

‘A lot of a tartar,’ Sister Joan said, and found herself laughing as the taxi backed away, and Sister Gabrielle, cloak over her shoulders, came to the kitchen door with Alice gambolling at her heels.

‘So you’re home again, girl,’ she observed. ‘No doubt the quality of the cooking will drop into the nether regions, but since it’s Lent we may as well put up with it.
You’d better come in. Tell us what you’ve been up to. Nothing to your credit, I’ll be bound!’

‘Not much to my credit,’ Sister Joan said ruefully. ‘But I’ll tell you something, Sister Gabrielle, suddenly it feels wonderful to be home!’

Echo of Margaret

Pilgrim of Desire

Flame in the Snow

Hoodman Blind

My Pilgrim Love

A Vow of Silence

Last Seen Wearing

Vow of Chastity

My Name is Polly Winter

Vow of Sanctity

Vow of Obedience