Chapter Text
21 September
Dear Hecate,
I do hope that your sabbatical has been pleasant so far. I promised myself I would not disturb you during this term, but I am afraid I need assistance with a small matter. We have had a lengthy and lingering bout of flu here and are nearly out of nightweed. I know that you have a supply somewhere, but we have been unable to locate it. If you could tell me where it is and how to access it, I would be most grateful. Algernon has been making nightly trips to gather some fresh, but as you know nightweed is not particularly plentiful this time of year. Several other academies have also had outbreaks of flu and so our options for purchasing it are somewhat limited. I apologize for intruding on the peace of your work – I would not have done it had it not been so critical.
You will be pleased to know that Dimity is filling the deputy headmistress role admirably – she is quite different from you of course, my dear, but we are finding a good working rhythm – and I can assure you that she doesn’t let me avoid the less agreeable tasks any more than you do.
Sincerely,
Ada
22 September
Dear Ada,
The nightweed can be found in my office on the top left shelf behind the newt eyes. I have made it invisible – I do not trust the students not to get into mischief with it and they could cause themselves considerable harm, especially if they mistook it for regular pondweed. The spell which will reveal it is:
Shining light, illumine me
Bright before my eyes I see
What was hidden from my sight
A jar of the weeds of night
If the quantity of nightweed should prove insufficient to your needs a modification of the nausea-banishing spell with a substitution of pumpkin rind for the daisy petals should provide an adequate, if not quite as effective substitute for those who have a milder case.
You did not mention whether you have been one of the sufferers. I hope that you are taking care of yourself, and not neglecting your own health.
Sincerely,
Hecate
24 September
Dear Hecate,
Thank you for telling me about the adjustment to the anti-nausea potion, it worked wonders and allowed us to stretch the nightweed supply. Yes, of course I have been taking precautions as I can, but you know very well that the school comes first. I can well imagine the disapproving glare you are no directing towards this letter, so I promise you that I am not taking wild risks. But I am headmistress Hecate, I can’t ask others to do more than I am myself doing. Suffice it to say that the students are improving rapidly and I hope that everyone will be healthy again by the end of a week.
I dare say that you are probably very happy having a break from your usual fall activities, so you needn’t reply to this letter if you don’t want to. I know how happy you were to be able to finally take some much-deserved time to do research. However, should you want a little break now and then and would like to stay in touch, I’d be delighted to hear how you go on.
Warmly,
Ada
25 September
Dear Ada,
I am not in the least bit reassured by your cryptic comment about taking care of yourself as long as the needs of the school are not greater than your own. I am of half a mind to write to Dimity to get the full story. She would be more than happy to tell me exactly how things stand, I am sure. Take care of yourself, Ada. You’re doing neither the school nor yourself any favors if you push yourself beyond your limits.
Thank you for inquiring after my project. It is going along tolerably well. Mlle Jardin has been obliging enough to give me free reign of library for the Académie des Botanistes, and Mlle Papillon, the head archivist has invited me to make use of archives as well. This has been very helpful in conducting my research.
I am currently engaged in experimenting with the properties of certain water-plants and their effectiveness in memory potions. I am still too much in the exploratory stage to say with confidence more than that, but I have hopes that I will find ways of making certain potions more effective.
Mlle Jardin has been of some assistance in narrowing down which plants I should start with. I have found that she has a quick mind, a ready intelligence, and of equal importance she does not fill all available space with chatter. I confess I did not know what to expect when first I met her but I am not sorry to have made her acquaintance.
No letter of yours could be unwelcome to me, and I would be delighted to keep in touch. It is nice to have a break from worrying about what new disasters the students will manage to get themselves into next, and it is very pleasant to be able to so wholly devote myself to my research. I do miss being at Cackle’s though, more than I anticipated.
Sincerely,
Hecate
2 October
Dear Hecate,
I apologize for the delay since my last letter. I am ashamed to admit that just as the last girls were recovering from the flu I came down with it, and spent several days disagreeably ill. I assure you I am now perfectly recovered and you needn’t scold me for Dimity and Gwen have already done so.
I am glad that Mlle Jardin and Mlle Papillion have made the library and archives available to you. I’ve met Mlle Jardin a few times at some of the larger witching conferences, and she seemed bright, thoughtful, and a consummate academic.
I hope both that your work is going well and that you have been able to take a little time to see some of the sights of Paris.
Did you see the article in the most recent issue of Magical Curiosities about non-magical nursery rhymes and their relationship to basic spells? Dr. Zvyezda thinks that they may be corruptions of old chants. Gwen and I have had several interesting discussions about it. Some of the connections are a bit tenuous I admit, but I’d love to know what you think.
I miss you very much, my dear. I knew that I would, but I had not realized just how intertwined your life had become with mine until you left for Paris.
Affectionately,
Ada
4 October
Dear Ada,
Very well, I won’t scold you though I am sorely tempted to do so, and ruined three sheets of perfectly good paper before this one.
I have not yet seen that issue of Magical Curiosities. The Académie’s library doesn’t subscribe to any of the general periodicals, but I am certain I can find a copy, perhaps at the Bibliothèque de magie, and if nowhere else I know the Bibliothèque nationale de magie should have it.
I have not yet had much time to sight-see. My research is proceeding relatively smoothly. So far Persicaria amphibia is not showing much promise in enhancing memory, which makes me wonder how it came to have the common name of “water smartweed”. Not that I set much store by common names of plants. I am looking into whether a combination of some sort with Mentha aquatica (Watermint) may be useful. Menyanthes trifoliate, also known as bogbean is proving much more useful at the moment than Persicaria amphibia.
I find that I miss your company as well. It is not quite the same, taking tea with my notes.
Sincerely,
Hecate
5 October
Dear Hecate,
I must admit “water smartweed” is neither a particularly imaginative nor a very elegant name. I’m glad the bogbean is more of a success. What sort of things are you testing with the bogbean?
Do you know, Agatha once tried to convince me that we could become smarter by eating pondweed? She insisted it must be freshly gathered from the pond. I can’t remember now how she finally convinced me to try it – it was one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life.
The leaves are starting to turn, just a little here, and there’s that feeling of fall in the air. I’m going to visit Mother for the weekend, for our annual apple-picking adventure.
Perhaps Mlle Jardin would take tea with you one day?
Affectionately,
Ada
7 October
Dear Ada,
Yesterday I encountered a friend of yours, Mlle Théière. She ran into me (quite literally, as it turns out) as I was leaving the Bibliothèque de botanique. I dropped the stack of books I was carrying, and one the envelopes from your letters, which I had been using as a place-marker, fell out. Mlle Théière helped me to gather the books again, and happened to see your name on the envelope. After very properly apologizing for reading something which was none of her business, she explained that she had been well-acquainted with you at one time but had lost touch. She asked after you, and at that point Mlle Jardin had come to see what all the noise was about, and greeted her in such warm and affectionate terms as made me feel comfortable telling Mlle Théière that you were doing quite well.
I somehow found myself agreeing to have dinner with both of them next week – Mlle Théière insisted it was the least she could do, after “running me over”, as she put it. And I confess I was somewhat curious.
Is there any message you would like me to give her when I see her again?
Sincerely,
Hecate
9 October
Dear Hecate,
I had not the faintest idea that Marthe Théière was back in Paris! The last time I heard from her she was in Switzerland with Miss Longstead. Will you please give her my regards and tell her she is welcome to visit Cackle’s at any time, should she be in England again in the future.
We did indeed know each other well at one time, though it was more years ago now than I would care to admit. We started dating in college and were quite serious about one another for several years. Our relationship did not ultimately survive being a long-distance one – I came back to Cackles and she returned to France, but we parted amicably and kept in touch for some years. I am not perfectly sure how we fell out of touch, but you know how these things happen sometimes.
I should very much like to know how she is these days, and what she has been up to lately. Funny that Marthe should turn up again after all these years! Well! You just never know what time will bring. I shall have to tell Mother that you have met her, she will be delighted. I do believe she hoped at one time that Marthe and I might marry. I dare say Marthe may be happily devoted still to Miss Longstead, for all I know.
I had a marvelous time with Mother over the weekend. I must admit this is one activity in which I do not miss Agatha – she never was fond of apple-picking. We made a pie with some of the apples, a galette, and applesauce with the rest. I’m enclosing a jar of the applesauce with this letter. Don’t worry, it’s unsweetened, and I didn’t put any cinnamon in.
I wish I could send you some of the pie but it would not, I fear, travel very well.
Affectionately,
Ada
11 October
Dear Ada,
Thank you very much for the applesauce, it is quite delicious. I had some with a small slice of ginger cake with my tea yesterday. As I am having dinner with Mlle Théière and Mlle Jardin tomorrow night I have decided to wait on asking Mlle Jardin to take tea with me until after the dinner, in case we should not get along outside of a working environment.
I will pass along your messages to Mlle Théière as you have requested.
Sincerely,
Hecate
13 October
Dear Ada,
Mlle Théière promises that she will visit soon, and is delighted at the prospect of becoming reacquainted with you. She spoke of you with the greatest affection and warmth. I am sorry to tell you that Miss Longstead and Mlle Théière went their separate ways some years ago. I could not hope to match Mlle Théière’s eloquence or sense of humor in regards to telling her own story, and so I shall attempt to do so, but leave it to her to do so. I have taken the liberty of supplying her with your address, so that the two of you may work out the details of her trip more efficiently.
Mlle Jardin is as charming a dinner companion as she is an able research assistant. I asked her if she would take tea with me on Tuesday, and she agreed.
Sincerely,
Hecate
14 October
Dear Hecate,
Thank you for putting me back in touch with Marthe – she will arrive a little before Halloween and will stay for a few days. It will be very nice to see her again, I am sure. I have had a thought about Halloween this year, which I will tell you later for my time is short at the moment.
I am of course very happy for you, that you and Mlle Jardin are getting along so splendidly.
Warmly,
Ada
16 October
Dear Ada,
You need no longer worry that I am too busy to take in the sights – Mlle Jardin, upon learning that I had not done so already very kindly offered to be my guide, so I shall be seeing more of her in the next few weeks, I expect.
I realized that in all the excitement of rediscovering your former partner that I have failed to update you on my research in the last several letters. Persicaria amphibia continues to resist my efforts, even after modifying it in several ways with Mentha aquatica. I am having more success with Menyanthes trifoliate. At present I am attempting to improve a potion that clears the mind of distractions and improves focus.
I trust that you and Mlle Théière will have much to catch up on.
Sincerely,
Hecate
18 October
Dear Hecate,
I fear that I may have done something which has upset you. Perhaps I am more into your last letter than is there, but if I have upset your or offended you I beg you will tell me what it is that I have done, that I may fix it.
You are very dear to me Hecate, and I would not hurt you for the world.
I remain yours truly,
Ada
20 October
Dear Ada,
I was upset, but not with you, only with myself. I had realized I been a little foolish, and was still angry with myself when I wrote you that letter. I had rather not talk about it. I beg your pardon for letting my feelings bleed through into my note. I should not have done that.
You said you had new plans this year for Halloween at Cackle’s?
Sincerely,
Hecate
21 October
Dear Hecate,
I will of course not press you if you do not wish to speak of it, but as your friend I will say one thing. I know how important standards are you, how hard you strive for perfection, but we can none of us be perfect, and I hope you will remember that making mistakes does not make you a bad person. I fear that sometimes you are a little unforgiving of yourself. We are but human, and therefore we err, from time to time. You are a remarkable woman, Hecate and a remarkable witch. I feel so very fortunate that our paths crossed and that you chose to take the potions mistress position. I would be the poorer in so many ways had you not.
Now you asked about the plans for Halloween. I thought it might be good to do something completely different so that there would be as little in the celebration as possible to remind the returning students of last year. I also thought it would be good to have support in numbers, as it were, so I invited the students and staff of Pentangles to celebrate with us.
I have asked our students for suggestions on activities, decorations, and music and have asked Pippa to do the same with her students. I can perfectly imagine your horrified reaction to this idea, so let me assure you that I am not permitting the students to vote on their suggestions. Only staff will make the final determination.
Mildred Hubble made some suggestions about music. A charming piece called “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Edvard Grieg and the Toccata and Fugue in D minor by J.S. Bach. Both appropriately traditional by nonmagical standards. I think even you would not find fault with them.
Oh, that reminds me, Gwen is hoping that you might be able to bring her back a recording of the Grand-Orgue of Saint-Sulpice, if you have time, preferably one where either the organist or assistant organist is playing, but any recording will do she says.
One of the suggestions that has come out of Pentangles so far is to roast marshmallows on sticks over the fires (which we will have outdoors this year). I imagine this is not something you would approve of, but it is harmless enough fun, and I do believe the children will enjoy it very much.
Pippa also sent us a recording of two of her students performing what they called “a post-punk Halloween ballad” which I am not at all sure about but I would like to get Gwen’s opinion on.
Do you have any plans for Halloween in Paris, dear?
With much affection I remain,
Ada
22 October
Dear Ada,
Mlle Jardin’s partner, Mlle Tournesol knows of a place where the old traditions are still adhered to, and has promised to take me there. This works out for all parties involved, as Mlle Jardin usually accompanies her but prefers a more exuberant observance of the occasion.
I have no confidence whatsoever in Pippa’s marshmallow scheme, but as I will not be obliged to deal with the inevitably sticky aftermath I will leave it to your judgement. I most strongly urge you to squash such a plan, however. You are well aware of my sentiments in regards to Halloween and the manner in which it should be observed, and since Pippa is also involved I have not the slightest hope that I would be able to convince her that Halloween is not a happy occasion I shall not waste paper in the attempt.
I am greatly relieved that you do not intend to allow the students to vote on the Halloween plans. The talent show is one thing, allowing them to dictate the entire course of the celebrations is quite another.
I have not forgotten the article you recommended, but I have not yet had time to go to the Bibliothèque de magie. I will try to get that recording that Gwen wants, as well.
You are very kind, Ada, and I know I would not be who I am today without you and your influence. Your kind words meant more to me than I can tell you.
Warmly,
Hecate
23 October
My dear,
I forgot to ask you, may I give Pippa your address? She has been asking after you.
Yours,
Ada
24 October
Dear Ada,
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a splendid day. Your present has been a little delayed I am afraid, but it will arrive by Halloween.
I have no objection to your giving Pippa my address. I am almost afraid to ask, but has the fate of the “post punk Halloween ballad” in regards to the Halloween observance been decided?
I have had a breakthrough with my research! If you combine two grams of Mentha aquatica with four and a half grams of Menyanthes trifoliate, brew it for an hour, stirring slowly but constantly, and then combine it with the standard memory potion it enhances a person’s memory so that they essentially have a photographic memory, for a brief period of time. I have not been able to sustain the effect for very long, but I am certain that I will be able to find a way to do so.
I haven’t time to write more, I am afraid, the library is closing soon and I wish to consult a few volumes before they do so.
With warmest affection,
Hecate
25 October
Dear Hecate,
My dear, thank you for the birthday wishes, and I am so excited for you and proud of you! What a wonderful discovery! How marvelous! Oh my dear, what wonderful news. I could not be happier for you.
Pippa sends her congratulations as well (as do Dimity, Gwen, and Algernon) and says she will be writing you shortly.
Gwen was considerably taken aback, at first by the post punk Halloween ballad (its name, evidentally is “Punky Night Redux”). As you can imagine it is not at all the style of anything I can even remotely imagine Gwen teaching. However, after listening to the piece several times and after due consideration Gwen decided that we should permit its inclusion. She said that although it was highly untraditional and very strange to her ear that it was a remarkable and unusual composition that would surely grab the attention of the students and expose them to a very different musical style. She calls it a “mind-broadening experience”.
Marthe will be arriving in a few days and I am excited but also a little nervous. It’s been so long since I last saw her. I know it is a silly thought, but what if we don’t get along anymore? What if we are so different that we no longer have anything in common?
But I shouldn’t be bothering you with this, you have made your breakthrough and—oh Hecate, congratulations!
Yours,
Ada
26 October
Dear Ada,
Please give my thanks to Dimity, Gwen, Algernon, and Pippa.
I find that there are not words adequate to describe the horror I felt on your behalf upon reading your description of “Punky Night Redux” (my pen rebels against even writing it). You all have my deepest and sincerest sympathy. Surely this is a case for using your veto power if ever there was one.
It is very natural to feel nervous at the prospect of meeting Mlle Théière once again. I did not tell you this at the time but I was quite on edge when I learned that I would be seeing Pippa again, after so many years. But Ada, there is no possibility that Mlle Théière will dislike you. You said you had parted on good terms, and anyone who once held you in affection could not but help to continue to do so. You are one of the best people that I know. You are kind to a fault, and have a generous and loving heart. You see the best in people, and in most cases that inspires the people around you to be the best versions of themselves that they can be.
Remember too, that Mlle Théière is already delighted with the prospect of seeing you again. You will have plenty to talk about it, and whether or not you still have much in common you will surely still have a nice visit. Please try not to worry Ada. I have every confidence that you will have a splendid time together.
Warmly,
Hecate
28 October
Dear Hecate,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I hardly know what to say – only that that is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. And you have quite bolstered my confidence. I am still nervous, but buoyed by such kind words as yours…well I can’t think what I might have done to deserve someone like you.
Marthe arrives tomorrow. I am all nerves, and don’t know how I will sleep tonight. Perhaps a cup of tea will help. At the very least it will give me something to do.
Yours,
Ada
P.S. I am afraid I already told Pippa that “Punky Night Redux” has been approved and she has told her girls, so there’s no putting the cat back in the bag now. I did briefly consider forbidding it, but we must allow the girls some freedom, within limits of course.
30 October
Dear Ada,
If anyone tries to approve "Punky Night Redux" for next year, I can assure you that it will give me the greatest pleasure to veto it for you if you feel unable to do so.
If you birthday present does not arrive tomorrow, please tell me as I was promised it would. I trust that your visit with Mlle Théière is going well.
The Académie des Botanistes is going to be closed on Halloween and Mlle Jardin has convinced me that I should take the day off as well. She has promised to take me to the Jardin du Luxemborg. She says that I should really come in June if I want to see it at its full beauty but that I should see it now, before it gets any colder.
She also mentioned that there is an afternoon organ concert at Saint-Sulpice tomorrow, so she and I will go to that as well and she thinks I will be able to acquire a recording for Gwen.
Warmly,
Hecate