‘I knew this life wasn’t for you,’ the old priest said heavily. ‘You can’t cope with the injustice of it all. You younger ones want to change the Church and its injustices more than you want to spread the word of God. Have a bite to eat and go to bed, we’ll meander over to the convent together tomorrow and see how the land lies,’ he said gruffly.

Armand felt a great worry slide from his shoulders, knowing that the kind old man did not judge him, or Keelin, and he would do his best for them. The greatest relief of all was knowing that the internal struggle about his vocation, or lack of it, was finally over.

*

Armand felt a new sense of purpose as he assisted the Monsignor in Mass the following morning. He tried to locate Keelin but couldn’t see her with her fellow Sisters. Reverend Mother Germaine was stern-faced as always, but today she seemed particularly thin-lipped. The niggle of anxiety increased to a full-scale blast and after Mass, disrobing in the small sacristy, Armand whispered to the Monsignor, ‘I didn’t see Keelin out there.’

‘Stay calm, lad, they’ll be offering us tay and breakfast. Let’s see what the RM has to say. You say nothing. Maybe the girl is sick.’

‘I suppose if I ask about her it might seem odd?’

‘Whatever you do, don’t mention her name in front of that Germaine one. I’ll try and suss out what, if anything, is going on. Say nothing now!’ the old priest warned.

*

Pascal, the houseboy, had barely finished clearing away the dishes when Reverend Mother Germaine swept into the small dining room.

‘I trust your breakfast was satisfactory, Fathers,’ she said in her cool, clipped tone.

‘Very tasty, Reverend Mother,’ Monsignor Kelly answered genially. ‘Are you and the Sisters enjoying the holidays?’

‘We were, until I had to send one of our nuns back to France.’ She gave Armand an unyielding stare. Dread swept through him but he held her gaze.

‘Oh dear,’ interjected Monsignor Kelly swiftly. ‘Nothing serious, I hope.’

‘Extremely serious!’ The RM continued to stare at Armand. ‘She was guilty of dishonouring her God, her Sisters here and her Order. What could be more serious than that?’

‘I see,’ the Monsignor said calmly, pouring himself another cup of tea. ‘Father Durand?’ He raised an eyebrow and held up the elegant silver teapot.

‘Thank you, I will.’ Armand managed to keep the shake out of his voice, taking his cue from the Monsignor.

‘And apart from that unfortunate event, and we must remember that Jesus in His mercy and charity never condemns and always forgives,’ Monsignor Kelly added pointedly, in the same matter-of-fact tone, topping up Armand’s tea. ‘Have the holidays been restful?’