That...

...Doesn't quite work but it felt closer somehow.

She tries again and hauls up on the broom and jumps in the air really hard!

That doesn't quite work, the same way. It felt the same as last time.

Maybe she needs to point the effort at herself instead of the broom? Or make it more of a "lifting" kind of effort?

The first thing doesn't feel like anything at all. The second thing feels about the same as what she was trying before.

Does getting a running start help at all?

Nope. The monks seem to be having fun watching her flail around with a broom, though.

Maybe it's a separate thing-she-can-do, the way moving her left arm is different from moving her right arm? Is there anything she can do that's like making a mana light but isn't quite the same not-a-limb?

After a few variations of trying different not-a-limbs she finds one that makes the broom shake violently for a moment.

"Oh wow it did something!" She tries that one again, concentrating on wanting it to make the broom go up.

It sort of feels like pushing magic into the broom. Magic in the broom makes it shake violently no matter what sort of wanting is attached to it.

Can she . . . pull the magic . . . back out of the broom?

Pulling the magic back out of the broom makes it fly off directly away from her! For a few feet, then it falls normally.

"Woah!" She tries that again, keeping a good solid grip on the broom this time. Does it go in the direction the handle is pointing?

It tries to go directly away from her again - this time it actually drags her with it, since she's holding on so tightly.

She's feeling unaccountably tired, like she's been running for a while instead of walking around, jumping, and holding a broom.

One of the monks heads for her. "Are you alright, señorita?"

Well, if magic is sort of like a limb, maybe it can get tired like a limb. 

"I'm alright, Brother, just getting used to this."

Hmm. She probably has enough energy left for one more try. If pulling the magic back from the broom towards her makes it go away from her, maybe pushing the magic downwards out of the broom will make it go up? Is that a thing she can do?

That's a thing she can do! The broom goes up! It lifts her up by the arms where she's gripping it for a moment, nearly taking her feet off the ground before the force disappears.

"I almost flew! Did you see??"

"Please be careful, señorita! It's dangerous to learn to ride horses alone! Surely this is the same!"

"I can only make it go a little way, it's not like a horse that can decide to run off. But you're right, I shouldn't do it unless someone is watching. I'm getting tired, I can go home and try again tomorrow with my parents watching."

"Okay. Just be careful, alright? I know it's exciting, but nobody wants you to get hurt."

"Of course, Brother. I'm sorry for worrying you. Where should I put the broom now that I'm done with it?"

"I'll take it. Thanks for not breaking it. And - it's nice to see you so happy about magic. Just worrying too! God be with you."

"And with you." she says, smiling and handing the broom over. Then she hurries home to eat dinner, and help clean up after dinner, and chatter at her parents all about how she's almost got flying figured out but magic is tiring and maybe tomorrow she'll be able to get good at it and also this is how you smith iron. And sleep.

Several people gave her family little gifts while she was gone at the abbey.

The next morning the rumors say that a witch is probably coming today to teach little Margaretta.