Reblogged from Jim Webster, aka Tallis Steelyard:

It has to be admitted that illness had laid Maljie low. It finally forced her to admit that not only was she no longer eighteen, it was most unlikely that she would see thirty-five again. In all candour this rather irritated her. After all, she felt that for a young woman of her age, she had done eighteen reasonably well, but not so well that she couldn’t have gone back and improved upon it. As for thirty-five, there were aspects of the age she felt she had mastered, but work was probably needed on some of the other features.

Still, it was nice the way that people rallied round, with the utmost solicitude that they felt was appropriate for a lady of her advancing years. Still, she bore with it bravely. Nobody got the sharp edge of her tongue, which was, Maljie felt, merely another of her symptoms.

It was about then that people suggested it was time she laid aside the more rigorous duties of a temple warden and instead concentrated on her more spiritual gifts. Kindly people pointed out, straight-faced and without any hint of a smirk, that she had accumulated considerable wisdom over the years, and her innate kindness and concern made her the obvious person to provide spiritual guidance and solace to those in crisis.

Continue reading at Tallis Steelyard