“Passion,” Faye said throatily, smiling her old, slow smile around the group as she dripped wax on the road and stuck the candle in it. “All right: beauty,” Suzan said. “Courage,” she said, clearly and distinctly, tilting the candle so a transparent stream of yellow wax ran onto the road. “Wisdom,” said Melanie, her cool gray eyes steady as she lit the wick. “Inspiration,” she said. “That’s good; compassion.” Laurel lit the purple candle. “Purity,” she said simply, lighting the white candle with a match and reaching into the circle of candles to place it in the center.











