Sister Benedict’s Dilemma

Part Two: The kindly nun comes up against a furious mother

Second part of our serial. The caring nun has quite a day of it

Sister Benedict occasionally bent to pick chamomile as she walked with Owen in the convent garden. He’d appeared a few minutes ago and was yet to reply to the question she’d posed him on his arrival, asking what she could do for him.

They must make a strange-looking pair, Sister Benedict thought. He tall and lean, she smaller, rounder and top to toe in her dark habit with a thin frame of white around her face.

“Owen?” she prompted the lad; he was miles away. Soon enough it would be time for Vespers and she would have to go inside; he would have to leave.

He twisted his cap in his hands, an outward sign of the turmoil she suspected he felt, but wasn’t yet voicing aloud.

“I can’t go ahead, Sister. I can’t be a priest,” he said, finally. “I wanted to speak with you about what to do.” He looked straight ahead. “There’s Gráinne, too, to consider.”

This revelation came as little surprise to Sister Benedict, having witnessed him and Gráinne together at Crough Patrick, but despite it neither surprising or shocking her, his decision did raise a number of questions and dilemmas.

Not least how his ma would react.

“I see,” she said. “And what do you propose doing instead, Owen?”

“I want to do something good, Sister, something that will benefit the village.”

She chose not to point out that to be a priest would do exactly that – he would serve his village, his community, but he knew that. She understood his reasons for rejecting what he must have once thought was his true vocation. She knew the pain the lad must be feeling now. He would not be taking this decision lightly.

“Sister, I would like to teach. I’m a great admirer of Mrs Stephens and the work she does at the Industrial School. And isn’t she after needing more help, especially with the boys?

“Mrs Stephens could teach me what she knows. I’m a quick enough learner. There’d be no messing about in class with me as a teacher.

“I’d be kind too, mind. I know what misfortune does to a family; the sadness it brings and the distress these children must feel throughout the school day. My da, you know… and as soon as I’m established there Gráinne and I can marry. What do you think, Sister?” She snipped a sprig of rosemary. “I think you have the makings of a grand plan there, Owen.” “Just the makings, Sister?” “There’s no merit in rushing, Owen. Yes, I think it would be a fine thing to approach Mrs Stephens. She does indeed need help at the Industrial School. She is in danger of becoming a victim of her own success. And I don’t doubt your potential to become a teacher.

“But with Gráinne, the marriage, that’s where there should be no hurry.” Sister Benedict put her hand up to hush him as he was clearly about to interrupt.

“You make a handsome couple, you and Gráinne, but think of your poor ma. Not only does she have to overcome the shock of you not going into the priesthood, but a hasty marriage, too? I think that would be too much for her.”

Owen remained silent. Sister Benedict hoped he was giving her words some consideration.

“If you settle into your profession as a teacher you will prove to your ma that you are serious about the change in career. You can save your wages, help your ma out too, and it will be evidence to her that you’re capable of providing for a wife and family.” “But, Gráinne…” Owen’s voice faded. “Owen, Gráinne will wait for you. I know enough of love to tell that’s exactly what she feels for you. And you for her. You have a passion between you that won’t fade quickly.”

He flushed. This wasn’t a usual conversation to be had between a young man and a nun.

“Come now. Tomorrow we will visit Mrs Stephens together. I know she will be happy to help. I’ve to visit her in any case. She wishes to discuss new children joining the school.”

The bell sounded for Vespers.

“Shewillwaitforyou. Iknowenough of LOVE to see that is what she FEELS”

“Thank you so much, Sister – I will meet you there.”

They agreed on a time and Sister Benedict watched Owen leave the garden. Thepoorlad, she thought, he hassomebattlesahead. Then she too disappeared indoors with a sweep of her habit, not wishing to bring the wrath of Mother Superior on her head.

There would be time enough for that when it came to discussing her own private dilemma. O wen was already in the drawing room at the Stephens’ house when Sister Benedict arrived the following morning. He was tugging at his cap again, standing in the middle of the room with Joe, the Stephens’ newly adopted son, hanging from his left arm. He looked the very picture of discomfort, and Benedict suspected it had nothing whatsoever to do with Joe.

“Owen tells me you and he have a matter to discuss?” Mrs Stephens asked, indicating that they both take a seat.

Sitting, however, was proving tricky for Owen. Joe was insisting on a piggyback, which Owen was resisting.

“Later, Joe,” he said. “If there’s time. And outside. Not in here. What will Mrs Stephens say if we collide with that vase?” “She won’t mind,” Joe retorted. The look on Mrs Stephens’ face suggested that although she loved her Joe dearly she would indeed mind if the vase in question was to smash.

“I have to sit, Joe, look – even Sister Benedict says so.”

“Indeed I do, Joe, we have important matters to discuss.” Sister Benedict put on a stern voice for Joe’s benefit, though she was fond of the bright young lad.

“I have important matters to discuss too,” Joe whispered, loud enough for them all to hear. “I have a secret.”

“Tell me later, Joe. When I’m giving you a piggyback.”

Joe, finally appearing to give up, ran from the room. “Now what brings you here, Owen?” He flushed as he had yesterday when Sister Benedict mentioned Gráinne in the convent garden, and stuttered out the beginnings of an explanation. He’d got as far as saying he wasn’t going to take up his vocation in the most roundabout manner when Sister Benedict took pity on him.

“He thinks he may be of use to you, Ellen, in the schoolroom – isn’t that right, now, Owen?”

It turned out this was exactly the prompt Owen needed. He spoke of helping neighbours’ children to read and how thrilled he was with the