Angels and Men by Catherine Fox

I think it can.’
    This was the longest and most serious speech Mara had heard him make. The four of them sat in silence listening to his words, as though they were another pre-Raphaelite tableau of first-century Palestine. The scene was undermined by May’s look of rapt adoration, which Mara was convinced Johnny had now seen but was ignoring.
    â€˜But it’s so difficult,’ she protested. Save me, Johnny! ‘If you can’t rely on every detail in the Bible, then it might all be untrue.’
    Johnny shook his head, turning so that he was facing Joanna more fully, and unable to see May, who was shaking her head in sympathy. ‘It might feel like that,’ he said, ‘but I’d say my faith is stronger now, rather than weaker, after a degree in theology.’ May nodded.
    â€˜You’ve studied theology?’ asked the girl.
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ said Maddy, wresting the scene back to herself. ‘They occasionally allow people with regional accents to read for degrees here. In his case it’s because he’s training to be a priest.’
    â€˜God’s Man for Our Time,’ said May.
    â€˜He’s celibate, of course,’ said Maddy. ‘But you will have realized that. Unless you thought he always sat that way.’ Johnny had a look of amused resignation on his face, and much though Maddy’s behaviour irritated Mara, she preferred it to Joanna’s brand of sanctified vamping. Maddy was opening her mouth for another speech, but Joanna was not to be upstaged without a struggle.
    â€˜So you’re going into the ministry?’ He nodded, and her face seemed to glow. ‘That’s amazing. That’s really amazing. While I was reading my Bible this morning, Father told me I was going to meet someone today who had a special calling.’
    Father! Mara squirmed.
    â€˜Do you have a Special Calling, Johnny?’ asked May gravely.
    â€˜No. I just like the dressing-up,’ he replied.
    Mara watched the girl’s face to see how she would react to this flippancy, but the secret glowing look was still in place. Father had obviously told her that Johnny was that special man. Yes, thought Mara. This is exactly how I picture Martha Simmonds weaving her poisonous web round James Nayler. Her scalp prickled. There had been a girl just like her in the sect. Leah. A coy, manipulative trouble-maker. Always worming her way to the centre of every group, latching on to the most powerful and interesting people. Hester had never been able to see this. Nothing Mara said convinced her that Leah was evil. It sickened Mara to see her sister turned into a tireless campaigner for Leah’s rights.
    â€˜It’s just that . . . well, I’ve got a calling, too,’ Joanna was saying. We’re supposed to gasp and ask for more, thought Mara.
    â€˜Well,’ said Maddy, clearly determined that nobody should oblige, ‘you’d better pull your finger out and start working on your degree, then.’
    â€˜Said the pot to the kettle,’ put in May.
    â€˜It’s the Greek, really,’ said Joanna, ignoring them. ‘I don’t always understand it.’ This was aimed at Johnny and he was forced to look serious again.
    â€˜Look, I’ll tell you what, pet,’ he said, ‘if you really are having difficulties with Greek –’
    No ! thought Mara in alarm. Don’t do it! Johnny looked her way and stopped in mid-sentence. He stared at her in surprise. The girl turned to see what he was looking at, and instantly Mara’s face became expressionless.
    â€˜If it’s the Greek that’s worrying you, why not ask the tutor to go over it with you?’ said Johnny. ‘They sometimes put on extra classes in the department. You’ll probably find you aren’t the only one struggling.’
    Joanna shot Mara a swift malevolent look that was covered instantly by a smile. ‘Maybe you’re right,’ she said