Angela laughs. "Do you want me to see if Micaiah is busy? We could let you see for yourself."

She nods.

[Love, someone has been spreading rumors about the cuteness of married Bells.]

"He's busy," she says.

Alleluia shakes her head.

Steel looks inquiringly at Alleluia.

"Hmm?"

"You have an opinion?"

"Well, it's none of my business, I just don't understand it."

"It took some adjusting for me too, but that was a long time ago."

"Somehow we manage."

"Have you met my children?" Angela asks Steel. "The two who come to these parties, at any rate, I think Ariel will be old enough to learn about magic soon but not yet."

"I have not."

"Would you like to?"

"I would."

"They're over there with Rose and the rosebuds - oh, and your girls, too, I wonder why they're all girls," says Angela, starting towards the cluster of small Bellspawn.

Rose waves as they approach.

"Mine are all girls for magical reasons, I believe."

"Magical reasons?" asks Keziah.

"Their mothers are all girls."

"So?" asks Céleste.

"So the magic that created them had only girls to work with."

"Why does that mean they're girls?" asks Keziah.

"Why wouldn't it?" says Tanalin. "Where would the magic get a boy from?"