Ходячий замок
Chapter 1
Butsuchwasthedemandthatshewashardattrimminghatsinbetweencustomers,andeveryeveningshetookthemnextdoortothehouse,wheresheworkedbylamplightfarintothenightinordertohavehatstosellthenextday.Caterpillar-greenhatsliketheonetheMayor’swifehadweremuchcalledfor,andsowerepinkbonnets.Then,theweekbeforeMayDay,someonecameinandaskedforonewithmushroompleatsliketheoneJaneFarrierhadbeenwearingwhensheranoffwiththeCountofCatterack.
Thatnight,asshesewed,Sophieadmittedtoherselfthatherlifewasratherdull.Insteadoftalkingtothehats,shetriedeachoneonasshefinisheditandlookedinthemirror.Thiswasamistake.ThestaidgraydressdidnotsuitSophie,particularlywhenhereyeswerered-rimmedwithsewing,and,sinceherhairwasareddishstrawcolor,neitherdidcaterpillar-greennorpink.Theonewiththemushroompleatssimplymadeherlookdreary.“Likeanoldmaid!”saidSophie.Notthatshewantedtoraceoffwithcounts,likeJaneFarrier,orevenfanciedhalfthetownofferinghermarriage,likeLettie.Butshewantedtodosomething—shewasnotsurewhat—thathadabitmoreinteresttoitthansimplytrimminghats.ShethoughtshewouldfindtimenextdaytogoandtalktoLettie.
Butshedidnotgo.Eithershecouldnotfindthetime,orshecouldnotfindtheenergy,oritseemedagreatdistancetoMarketSquare,orsherememberedthatonherownshewasindangerfromWizardHowl—anyway,everydayitseemedmoredifficulttogoandseehersister.Itwasveryodd.
