CHAPTER 104 - DOVES AND PIGEONS ---- CAPÍTULO 104 - PALOMOS Y PALOMAS
The Convent received her a few days later with its usual warmth. She greeted the sentry at the gate, who let her through, and knocked at the service door. It was Águeda Díaz, the faithful housekeeper from Algeciras, who opened it. 'Maribel, my dear, what a joy!' The two women embraced as only two lifelong friends can, and that simple gesture undid, for an instant, all the institutional solemnity of the place. John was in the drawing-room when Margot showed Maribel in. He rose to greet her with his usual affection, though also with a courtesy that could not quite conceal a certain discomfort at not having been able to do more than he had. Águeda brought the tea, poured it, and Margot, knowing the friendship and confidence Águeda also shared with Maribel, asked her to stay. The four of them talked for a while of inconsequential things, putting off, for the moment, any mention of what had happened that dreadful day. But when the conversation turned to the children, Maribel broke...
