‘In fairness, Mother Superior wasn’t abusive when Missy and I first joined the convent,’ Julie said. ‘Although she used her wooden ladle to smack the children, it was in a gentle good-natured way – a light tap on the head or back of the hand, nothing vicious. She even reigned in Sister Margaret when she saw her being overzealous in her punishments.’

‘So what happened to change everything?’ Jane asked.

‘The convent was getting rundown and in constant need of repair, which was costly for the diocese. Mother Superior heard a rumour they were thinking of selling it to raise funds. The convent was her life. She became depressed then started drinking heavily.’

‘How did you know Mother Superior was drinking?’ Jane asked.

‘She’d always liked a tipple, but her drinking got worse and she was often drunk, particularly of an evening. She stank of alcohol, slurred her words and staggered about. We suspected her booze was hidden in the chapel crypt as she spent so much time down there. The more she drank, the more bad-tempered and aggressive she became, often lashing out at the children and us for really trivial transgressions of the rules. Sister Margaret used it to her advantage and became Mother Superior’s self-appointed deputy. Together they started to run the convent with a rod of iron.’

‘I take it that upset Missy.’

‘It upset many of us. Missy was quite strong-willed and often spoke her mind. She told Mother Superior and Sister Margaret their physical abuse of the children made them live in constant fear and misery.’

‘What did they say to that?’

‘Missy told me they laughed at her. Mother Superior started to bully Missy and constantly punish her for trivial things that didn’t really matter.’

‘How did she punish her?’

‘She gave her the worst chores, stopped her writing home and generally made her life a misery, day in and day out.’

‘How did Missy react?’

‘She sort of took it on the chin and accepted her punishments. I know it must have upset her, but Missy was tough; she wasn’t going to let them break her down. Sometimes I could see she was fighting back the tears. I’d ask her if she was all right. She’d smile and say, “Don’t worry about me . . . I’m fine.”’

‘Can you tell me anything else about what made Missy so angry?’

‘When Sister Margaret cut Annette’s face with her cane, Missy was incensed. She told me she was going to report Sister Margaret and Mother Superior to the bishop. I’m ashamed to say I tried to dissuade her. I was afraid they would make Missy’s life even more of a misery . . . and take their anger out on the children as well,’ Julie added, welling up.

‘You mustn’t blame yourself for anything that happened at the convent,’ Jane said. ‘I understand why you were scared. Did Missy tell the bishop?’