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always took her punishments cheerfully, never for a minute seriously questioning her Superior’s right to dish them out, and so one had to assume she had a genuine vocation. But Mother Holy Angels still held serious doubts, because her personality was turning out to be very hard to subdue. It bubbled up in the most inappropriate ways. For a postulant to question practices that had been part of convent life for centuries was unusual enough – but for her to find these practices amusing was unheard of. That she always apologised in the most respectful manner after letting out one of her irreverent giggles somehow made it even more infuriating. The truth was that if it weren’t for Reverend Mother’s obvious liking for the girl, Mother Mary of the Holy Angels would have sent her packing months ago. As far as she was concerned, if the likes of Breda Walsh slipped through the cracks then the Order might not see the century out!
    Only the night before, when Mother had come in to wish the postulants goodnight, she’d found Breda standing in her nightdress looking out a window. The main convent building was in a square and completely hidden from the street beyond the ten-foot-high walls. The postulants’ and novices’ dormitories were on the second floor. Their windows looked out over a pretty internal garden with a huge liquidambar tree in the middle of the lawn, the top of which reached their floor.
    â€˜Just what are you doing, Sister?’ Mother fumed.
    â€˜Er … just standing here, Mother. I’m sorry.’
    â€˜ Standing? ’
    â€˜I love the tree at night, Mother. I’m sorry.’
    â€˜Sisters of the Good Shepherd do not stand about … looking at trees!’
    â€˜I know, Mother. It’s just that …’
    â€˜Just as we do not run, or speak unless it is absolutely necessary,’ the older woman fumed. ‘We are never late and we open and close doors silently at all times!’
    This was in direct reference to Breda’s misdemeanour earlier in the day when she’d come late into the Church Doctrinal class and in her consternation had left the door to clatter shut behind her. Bad enough that it caused everyone to look around, which put them all in the wrong, too – part of the Custody of the Eyes Rule stipulated never looking up when someone came into, or left the room – but the banging door had made Breda forget another even more important Rule. Instead of immediately dropping to her knees to kiss the floor in front of Mother Bernard, who was giving the class, she’d stood at the door mumbling about being ever so sorry to be late!
    Mother Bernard had simply exploded, going so far as to question Breda’s vocation right there and then in front of everyone. If she couldn’t get such a simple thing right, then what hope was there for her?
    And here she was, the same girl, the night before she was to be formally received into the convent, standing about looking at trees! Mother Holy Angels’s cheeks flamed red with indignation.
    â€˜Yes, Mother. Thank you, Mother.’
    â€˜As we do not look at our superiors!’
    â€˜I’m very sorry, Mother.’ Breda’s head fell immediately.
    â€˜Do you still not understand the Custody of the Eyes?’
    â€˜I do, Mother.’
    â€˜Are you sure? Tomorrow you will ask to be received into this community of Sisters for the next two years, on the understanding that you fully intend making vows to live here with us for the rest of your life!’
    â€˜I do realise that, Mother,’ Breda said with her eyes downcast. ‘And with the Grace of God I will try to correct myself.’
    â€˜Very well,’ the Novice Mistress sighed, ‘then I ask each and every one of you to pray for Breda Walsh as well as yourselves, because she does seem to be taking a very long time to learn the most basic aspects of our Rule.’
    â€˜Yes, Mother,’ the six other