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now that I travel in more elevated circles. It was Master Kendall who lifted me into wealth by marrying me to cure his gout, and also as a joke on his greedy family who were just sitting around waiting to inherit. As for Brother Malachi, whenever he was a real friar, I'll never know, because ever since I've known him he's beenthe most celebrated alchemist, the most ingenious mind, and the greatest fraud in five kingdoms.
    “Mother Hilde,” I said, as she joined us in the brightly painted little room that made their “hall,” “hasn't Malachi got discouraged yet? The Stone seems very hard to find.”
    “Discouraged? Oh, no, he's more enthusiastic than ever. He says he's found a new way to cause the black crow to fly from Sol and Luna in a cucurbit. Not that it isn't all beyond me, mind you. Such a mind, such a brilliant mind! Why, it's a gift just to hear him speaking of it—all that wisdom and those long foreign words. So tell me, Alison, I see you looking about the room. Were you thinking of the honey cakes I just might have baked yesterday, and just might have saved, thinking you'd be by?”Alison beamed expectantly, and Cecily looked at her toes. “Both girls shall have one, while I ask your mother about this awful lump right here on my left hand.”
    “Mother Hilde, really, you should have sent for me sooner,” I said as I looked at the stiff, swollen joint.
    “Do close the shutters, will you, girls?” called Mother Hilde to my greedy offspring. In the darkened room, the glow always shows, and there's no use exciting the neighbors. I fixed my mind on the Nothing that is greater than nothing, and then the light began to glimmer around the edges of the Nothing. I felt the crackle of powerful light rising in my spine and hands. Taking Mother Hilde's old, gnarled hand between mine, I could feel the heat moving into it, and the knotted joint start to shrink. Orangish pink light filled the room, gilding the faces of the children and transforming ordinary pots and clay jugs into shining, ruddy gold. It glinted on the gaudily painted figures of the zodiac that peered down from between the bright red and green painted ceiling beams of the Malachi the alchemist's curious little hall. It flowed like liquid into the empty spaces, healing and changing. The hand felt softer, now, and the heat that flowed from it was even. I let the light linger a bit, then watched with regret as it faded and the room transformed itself back into an ordinary place. I felt limp with the weakness that follows healing. But this was a little healing, and the weakness wouldpass in moments. A big one can put me in bed for days. And when I'm pregnant, the light goes inside to aid the child, and I can't do any healing at all, so you see what I mean about God being whimsical.
    “Now, how is that hand? Let me see you move it.” “Why, quite as good as new, Margaret,” said Mother Hilde, wiggling her gnarled old fingers happily. “There's many a pretty baby I'll yet bring into the world with that hand.” She tipped her head on one side and inspected me with her shrewd, old eyes. “Margaret, you're worn down. Too many worries. Here, put your feet on this stool and try some of this. No girls, it's not right for you. It's a tonic I've made, just like currant wine but with a few little inventions of my own. When you are grown-up ladies, then—”The girls looked at each other. “Now, why are you looking at each other like that?”
    “They've been having a problem being ladies, lately, Mother Hilde. They think you mean never.”
    “Nonsense. You shall soon be ladies. Twelve, thirteen, ready to be engaged and wed to some worthy gentleman. You are fortunate to have a fine dowry from your good old father, and a stepfather with connections. Being a lady isn't so bad at all, once you get used to it. And I assure you, it's far better than the alternatives.”
    The tonic was strange tasting, warming, and made my blood run faster.“Mother Hilde, why