"Prepare the stones," Ellie instructed.

Margaret Bismark stood and went to a small desk at the front of the room. She opened a drawer and pulled out two small leather pouches. She walked around and each woman took one stone from each bag. One was white and one was black.

Sable stood and retrieved a black vase and a white vase from the mantle. She sat them on the wooden chair that Runa had occupied.

One by one, each lady went to the vases and dropped a stone into each one.

When they were through Sable retrieved the White vase. She dumped the contents on the floor for all to see. Ten white stones and two black lay there.

"Bring the girl," Ellie said.

When Runa returned to the room, everyone was silent.

She stood in front of the wooden chair and looked oddly at the floor and the stones.

Marie stood with a lit candle. She handed it to Runa and directed her to the candelabra where one candle had not been lit.

Runa walked over with her candle while everyone watched and lit the unlit one.

"A New Flame to light the way," Ellie said.

"A New Flame to light the way," everyone else repeated.

Runa turned to face everyone.

Sable Weihl approached Runa. She reached out for her gloves. Runa handed her the gloves. Then Sable began to burn the gloves over Runa's flame. She took the burning gloves and tossed them into the fireplace. They continued to burn. Runa could see Margaret Bismark hand a small black bag to Sable.

"Runa Walker of the Bell, Book and Candle," Sable spoke as she walked back to her. She reached into the bag and handed Runa a new pair of white monogrammed gloves in exchange for the ones she had burnt.

"Welcome to the Ladies Book Club," Sable Weihl told her. "We join ourselves to you. You are our sister and we are yours. May the light of your reading lamp, never grow dim."

Runa looked at the gloves as she put them on.There was a hand stitched monogram of the letters ZBC. They fit her handsperfectly as if they were made for her.