Shadows of the Workhouse

perverse and irritating. Part of me was glad that the secret, which had oppressed me for days, was at last out in the open. On the other hand I was furious with myself for not having managed to dispose of the jewels before Sister Julienne found them. The knowledge that she required me in her office later gave me an uneasy feeling, and my legs turned the pedals reluctantly as I cycled back to Nonnatus House.
    As soon as I entered the clinical room I knew, from the atmosphere, that the police were in the house. Usually, after a day’s work, a group of young girls would make quite a lot of noise, chattering and giggling as they packed their bags and cleared up; but not on this occasion.
    Novice Ruth looked up. Her eyes were red and her voice seemed subdued. “You are to go to Sister Julienne’s office at once,” she said.
    A sick feeling grabbed at my stomach. Cynthia said: “I’ll do your bag. Leave it here, and don’t worry.”
    I knocked on the office door and entered. The same sergeant and constable who had been assigned to the case earlier were present. The jewels were spread out on the desk.
    Sister Julienne spoke. “Here is the nurse who has known of the existence of this -” She hesitated – “this . . . little haul, for more than fortnight.”
    My face was burning and I felt like a criminal.
    The sergeant spoke to me, the constable taking notes all the while. They required my name, my age, home address, next of kin, father’s occupation and many more details besides.
    “When did you first see these jewels?”
    “On a Monday afternoon, two weeks ago.”
    “Can you identify them?”
    “Not really, I did not look closely enough.”
    “But are they substantially the same?”
    “Yes.”
    “Where did you find them?”
    “In the third drawer down of the bedside cabinet.”
    The constable looked back through his notebook. “We looked in the bedside cabinet, sir, and there was nothing there. They must have been placed there after our search.”
    “Just what I was thinking. And what did you do, nurse?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Were you aware that these jewels are of considerable value?”
    “I guessed they might be, but I didn’t know.”
    Sister Julienne intervened. “Why did you not tell me?”
    “I promised I wouldn’t.”
    Sister Julienne was about to speak, but the sergeant silenced her.
    “Who did you promise?”
    “Sister Monica Joan.”
    “So she knew you had seen them?”
    “Yes.”
    “And she made you promise not to tell?”
    “Yes – no. She didn’t make me promise. I just did.”
    “Why?”
    “Because she was so upset.”
    “What was she upset about?”
    “The jewels.”
    “Upset that you had found them?”
    “I suppose so.”
    “Upset that she had been found out?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Was she upset before you found them?”
    “No. She was happy.”
    “And she was happy when you left her?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    I didn’t want to answer. But he repeated: “Why?”
    “I suppose she was happy because I had promised not to tell.”
    The sergeant looked at the constable. “Sister Monica Joan obviously knows what she has been doing. First she moves the jewels around to avoid detection and then when they are found, she is clearly relieved when a promise of secrecy is made.”
    He turned to me again. “At the time of finding the jewels, nurse, did you know that the police were investigating a charge of shoplifting brought by local costers?”
    “Yes.”
    “And did it not occur to you that the jewels might be relevant to police investigations?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Nurse, I won’t insult you by suggesting you are stupid!”
    “Well, yes, I did think they were relevant.”
    “Were you aware that withholding evidence during a police investigation is a criminal offence?”
    My mouth went dry and my head began to spin. It is one thing to engage in underhand behaviour, but quite another to be told by a police sergeant that you have been guilty of a criminal offence. My voice was barely audible.
    “I didn’t know until a few days ago that it was a criminal offence.”
    “And what happened a few days ago?”
    “I told the girls.”
    Sister Julienne exploded. “You told the girls and you didn’t tell me. This is outrageous!”
    “Why did you tell the girls and not the Sister-in-Charge?”
    “Because I knew that Sister Julienne would have to tell the police, but the girls wouldn’t.”
    “And what did the girls say?”
    “I can’t quite