Ходячий замок
Chapter 8
FairfaxandSophieranafterthedog,jumpingflowerbedsandgettinginoneanother’sway,andMichaelranafterSophiecrying,“Stop!You’llmakeyourselfill!”Thenthedogsetofflopingroundonecornerofthehouse.MichaelrealizedthatthewaytostopSophiewastostopthedog.Hemadeacrosswisedashthroughtheflowerbeds,plungedroundthehouseafterthedog,andseizeditbytwohandfulsofitsthickcoatjustasitreachedtheorchardattheback.
SophiehobbleduptofindMichaelpullingthedogawaybackwardandmakingsuchstrangefacesatherthatshethoughtatfirsthewasill.Buthejerkedhisheadsooftentowardtheorchardthatsherealizedhewastryingtotellhersomething.Shestuckherfaceroundthecornerofthehouse,expectingtoseeaswarmofbees.
HowlwastherewithLettie.Theywereinagroveofmossyappletreesinfullbloom,witharowofbeehivesinthedistance.Lettiesatinawhitegardenseat.Howlwaskneelingononekneeinthegrassatherfeet,holdingoneofherhandsandlookingnobleandardent.Lettiewassmilinglovinglyathim.Buttheworstofit,asfarasSophiewasconcerned,wasthatLettiedidnotlooklikeMarthaatall.Shewasherownextremelybeautifulself.Shewaswearingadressofthesamekindofpinksandwhiteasthecrowdedappleblossomoverhead.HerdarkhairtrailedinglossycurlsoveroneshoulderandhereyesshonewithdevotionforHowl.
SophiebroughtherheadbackroundthecornerandlookedwithdismayatMichaelholdingthewhiningcolliedog.
