‘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?’
‘I don’t think so, because Mother Superior and Sister Margaret didn’t change their ways. I think Missy also thought in the end it would be a waste of time.’
‘Why?’ Jane asked.
‘Because Mother Superior was good at putting on an act. She was ambitious. She often said she would become the next Superior General and have a private audience with the pope—’
‘Sorry to interrupt, but what’s a Superior General?’ Jane asked.
‘It’s also known as Mother General. Basically, they oversee all the Sisters of Mercy convents. Mother Superior was determined to achieve her goal and make sure the bishop and other visitors were properly impressed when they came to the convent.’
‘How did she do that?’ Boon asked. ‘Considering how badly the children were treated.’
‘There was a room in the convent that was always kept locked by Mother Superior. Inside was everything a child could wish for: a lovely playroom full of toys, books and dolls, all donated by a local Catholic charity. She only opened the playroom on days that dignitaries like the bishop or other officials visited the convent. They would see a room full of happy, smiling children and walk away with a false impression all was well and she was wonderful. As soon as they were gone, the children were marched out and the door was locked. Any child who resisted was given a whack on the head by Mother Superior with her wooden ladle or caned on the backside by Sister Margaret.’
‘Can you remember anything about Missy’s behaviour just before she left?’ Jane asked.
‘She hadn’t been her normal easy-going self. She was quiet and subdued. We always confided in each other when something was bothering us, but Missy was becoming more and more distant and keeping her feelings to herself. The last night I ever saw her we were in our room. It was after lights-out and I heard her crying. I asked what was upsetting her. Missy said she was really unhappy at the convent and didn’t know if she could continue to devote her life to the sisterhood and uphold the vows she had taken. I realised she was thinking of leaving. I told her not to do anything rash and suggested she should ask for a move to another convent. She said she would think about it, though it seemed to me she’d made up her mind. It wasn’t unusual for sisters to give up their faith, though generally they were novices. A few left while I was at the convent.’
‘Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly are the vows you take as a nun?’ Boon asked.
Julie smiled. ‘We were not nuns in the strict sense of the word. Although nuns and sisters are addressed as “Sister”, there is a difference. Nuns take solemn vows and live a cloistered life. They live, pray and work within the confines of a convent or nunnery. As “Sisters” we take simple perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. We can live in a convent or amongst the community, serving in healthcare or educational institutions. Nuns under solemn vows can only be released by the Pope, while sisters under simple vows can be released from them by the bishop.’
‘You learn something new every day,’ Boon smiled.
‘Do you think there was anything else, besides convent life, that was making Missy unhappy?’ Jane said.
Julie nodded. ‘I did wonder that, but I figured if Missy wanted to tell me she would, in her own time. I woke up in the early hours of the morning, Missy wasn’t in her bed...’ Julie started to cry. ‘I... looked on top of the wardrobe for the little case she’d brought with her when we first joined the convent. But it wasn’t there. She’d also taken her underwear and toiletries. At the time I thought she must have slipped out in the middle of the night. I was heartbroken she hadn’t said goodbye, but I understood why.’
‘How did Mother Superior find out?’
‘She asked me why Missy wasn’t at breakfast. I said I didn’t know and thought she’d got up before me. I was trying to give Missy as much time as possible to get far away from the convent. Mother Superior was furious when she realised Missy had run away. She accused me of helping her and Sister Margaret waved her cane in my face demanding to know where Missy had gone. I kept saying I didn’t know and Sister Margaret flew into a rage and beat me with her cane. Mother Superior said if anyone asked about Missy, I was to say she had decided to leave the sisterhood and left during the night. Back then there was an unspoken rule: when a sister left the community, we were not to mention her name again.’
‘That’s awful, Julie. I understand now why you believed she had run away. If I were in your shoes, I’d have thought the same thing,’ Jane said.
‘Me, too,’ Boon added.
‘Did they send anyone out to look for Missy?’ Jane asked.
‘Mother Superior said she was going to inform the police.’
‘Do you know if she did?’
‘No, but I very much doubt it, as a nun running away would be an embarrassment and could have caused them problems, especially if their abusive behaviour was ever revealed. However, she did tell Bishop Malone.’
Jane wasn’t surprised to hear his name come up again. ‘Isn’t he the archbishop of Southwark now?’
‘Yes, I heard he is.’
‘How did you know she told Malone?’
‘The next day I was called to Mother Superior’s office. Bishop Malone was there. He was angry and demanded to know if I knew Missy was going to run away, and if so, where she had gone. Initially I stuck to my story but was so incensed about the beating Sister Margaret had given me I told him Missy said she was going to write a letter to him about how abusive they were to the children.’
‘How did they all react?’ Jane asked.
‘He pointed his finger at me and accused me of lying. He said Missy had broken her vows and betrayed God and the Church by running away. Bishop Malone was only interested in protecting the good name of Mother Superior and the convent. He said Mother Superior would inform everyone that Missy had sought dispensation from her vows, which he had granted.’
Jane sighed. ‘Archbishop Malone seems to have a history of covering things up that look bad for the Church. He was also suspected of being abusive to children when he was a priest. Do you know if he was abusive to any of the children at your convent?’