how they comprise blood, phlegm, red and black bile? Did she tell you what to do if the humours are not in balance?' Sister Anne queried.
'No, she did not,' Janna admitted. She'd believed her mother had known everything, was startled to find that was not so.
'She did not tell you that the body may be warm and dry, warm and moist, cold and dry or cold and moist?'
Mute with shame, Janna shook her head.
'Did she mention the body's relationship to the four elements: earth, air, fire and water?'
'No.' Janna's confidence had evaporated. She felt extremely stupid.
'The art of healing does not rest only on knowing about herbs and their properties. Our knowledge is based also on medical practice passed down to us by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Persians.'
'Oh.' Janna waited, in distress, for Sister Anne to banish her from the infirmary now that she had learned the full extent of her ignorance.
'Your mother was known to be a skilled healer, and knowledgeable in the leechcraft practised by the Saxons,' Sister Anne observed, adding kindly, 'It could be that she was aware of the gaps in her knowledge, and feared them, and that was why she took upon herself the responsibilities of her healing practice and would not share them with you – lest you took the blame for her lack of understanding should something go wrong.'
Janna was silent. Sister Anne's words made sense. They certainly helped to explain Eadgyth's continued resistance to Janna's pleas. The last shreds of her resentment towards her mother slipped away.
'I feel sure there is much you can teach me, Johanna, for I know little of leechcraft but you obviously watched your mother carefully and learned from her all that you could.'
'Yes, Sister, I did.' Janna's hopes began to rise once more.
'Then massage Sister Angelica's back. I shall watch what you do, and instruct you as you go.' Sister Anne gave a wry smile. 'Besides, I have no choice in the matter,' she said, and held up her bandaged hand.
Janna helped the ancient nun disrobe and picked up the pot of ointment, thrilled to be given the opportunity she had always longed for.
She wondered if conversation was allowed during treatment, and decided to risk it. Her quest was too urgent for delay. 'May I speak, Sister Anne?'
The nun nodded. 'Talking is allowed in the infirmary, although I don't encourage idle chatter,' she added severely. 'What do you wish to know?'
'I am most grateful for your trust in me, Sister Anne.' Janna thought it best to flatter the old nun before asking for a favour. 'You'll find me a willing worker and a keen student, for I wish to know everything I may about healing the sick. Everything!'
'I shall do all I can to help you, Johanna.' Sister Anne leaned forward. She tapped Janna's hand. 'A little higher,' she said. 'Use your thumbs, and move in circles around Sister Angelica's back.'
'My greatest wish is to learn my letters,' Janna continued, following the nun's instructions as she spoke. 'I will willingly tell you all that I've learned from my mother, and help you in every way I can, if you could also teach me how to read and write.' She held her breath. Her hands moved in a slow rotation.
Sister Anne frowned. 'I didn't realise we were going to bargain over this, Johanna. When I asked for your help I expected a free exchange of information, for the joy of doing the Lord's work, as well as helping the sick and needy.'
'Yes! Yes, of course!' Janna was horrified her words had been misunderstood. 'I beg your pardon, Sister. Of course I will tell you all I know. I . . . I was just speaking what was in my heart, telling you my dearest wish in the hope that you may help me.'
'I would if I could.' Sister Anne gave a rueful laugh. 'But I am not so very skilled in letters, child. What I know of medicine and healing was told to me by my predecessor here, just as I will now pass on that knowledge to you. Those sisters who can read and write have duties elsewhere to occupy their time. The chantress
'No, she did not,' Janna admitted. She'd believed her mother had known everything, was startled to find that was not so.
'She did not tell you that the body may be warm and dry, warm and moist, cold and dry or cold and moist?'
Mute with shame, Janna shook her head.
'Did she mention the body's relationship to the four elements: earth, air, fire and water?'
'No.' Janna's confidence had evaporated. She felt extremely stupid.
'The art of healing does not rest only on knowing about herbs and their properties. Our knowledge is based also on medical practice passed down to us by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Persians.'
'Oh.' Janna waited, in distress, for Sister Anne to banish her from the infirmary now that she had learned the full extent of her ignorance.
'Your mother was known to be a skilled healer, and knowledgeable in the leechcraft practised by the Saxons,' Sister Anne observed, adding kindly, 'It could be that she was aware of the gaps in her knowledge, and feared them, and that was why she took upon herself the responsibilities of her healing practice and would not share them with you – lest you took the blame for her lack of understanding should something go wrong.'
Janna was silent. Sister Anne's words made sense. They certainly helped to explain Eadgyth's continued resistance to Janna's pleas. The last shreds of her resentment towards her mother slipped away.
'I feel sure there is much you can teach me, Johanna, for I know little of leechcraft but you obviously watched your mother carefully and learned from her all that you could.'
'Yes, Sister, I did.' Janna's hopes began to rise once more.
'Then massage Sister Angelica's back. I shall watch what you do, and instruct you as you go.' Sister Anne gave a wry smile. 'Besides, I have no choice in the matter,' she said, and held up her bandaged hand.
Janna helped the ancient nun disrobe and picked up the pot of ointment, thrilled to be given the opportunity she had always longed for.
She wondered if conversation was allowed during treatment, and decided to risk it. Her quest was too urgent for delay. 'May I speak, Sister Anne?'
The nun nodded. 'Talking is allowed in the infirmary, although I don't encourage idle chatter,' she added severely. 'What do you wish to know?'
'I am most grateful for your trust in me, Sister Anne.' Janna thought it best to flatter the old nun before asking for a favour. 'You'll find me a willing worker and a keen student, for I wish to know everything I may about healing the sick. Everything!'
'I shall do all I can to help you, Johanna.' Sister Anne leaned forward. She tapped Janna's hand. 'A little higher,' she said. 'Use your thumbs, and move in circles around Sister Angelica's back.'
'My greatest wish is to learn my letters,' Janna continued, following the nun's instructions as she spoke. 'I will willingly tell you all that I've learned from my mother, and help you in every way I can, if you could also teach me how to read and write.' She held her breath. Her hands moved in a slow rotation.
Sister Anne frowned. 'I didn't realise we were going to bargain over this, Johanna. When I asked for your help I expected a free exchange of information, for the joy of doing the Lord's work, as well as helping the sick and needy.'
'Yes! Yes, of course!' Janna was horrified her words had been misunderstood. 'I beg your pardon, Sister. Of course I will tell you all I know. I . . . I was just speaking what was in my heart, telling you my dearest wish in the hope that you may help me.'
'I would if I could.' Sister Anne gave a rueful laugh. 'But I am not so very skilled in letters, child. What I know of medicine and healing was told to me by my predecessor here, just as I will now pass on that knowledge to you. Those sisters who can read and write have duties elsewhere to occupy their time. The chantress
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