Introduction I am an old woman now, but I am very happy. I often sit by the fire and thing of the days when I was young. I can remember very clearly. Before I die, I want to write down everything I remember. I want to write down the truth about my family-the Sarns. People told lies about my family. I want to write down the truth. And I want to write about the Beguildys-father, moher and daughter. I want to tell how their lives were joined with ours. Many people said that Mister Beguildy was a wicked man. Perhaps he was. But the learning he gave me was a blessing, not a curse. It was because of my learning that I came to know Kester. But it is not yet the time to speak of Kester. Now we live near the mountains. From my window, I can see the wide sky and the high-flying clouds. When I was young, it was different. Then I lived in the house of Sarn. There were high trees round the house. We could only see the sky reflected in the waters of Sarn Mere.