Ходячий замок
Chapter 8
FairfaxwasaliveheusedtolikemetotransportusbothtoKingsburytoseeashowfromtimetotime.IcanmanagetwoverynicelyifItakeitslowly.AndIalwaysusedtodropinonoldMrs.PentstemmonwhileIwasthere.Shelikesheroldpupilstokeepintouch.AndonetimesheintroducedthisyoungHowltous.Oh,shewasproudofhim.ShetaughtWizardSulimantoo,youknow,andshesaidHowlwastwiceasgood—”
“Butdon’tyouknowthereputationHowlhas?”Michaelinterrupted.
GettingintoMrs.Fairfax’sconversationwasratherlikegettingintoaskippingrope.Youhadtochoosetheexactmoment,butonceyouwerein,youwerein.Mrs.FairfaxturnedherselfslightlytofaceMichael.
“Mostofit’sjusttalktomymind,”shesaid.Michaelopenedhismouthtosaythatitwasnot,buthewasintheskippingropethenanditwentonturning.“AndIsaidtoLettie,‘Here’syourbigchance,mylove.’IknewHowlcouldteachhertwentytimesmorethanIcould—forIdon’tmindtellingyou,Lettie’sbrainsgowaybeyondmine,andshecouldendupinthesameleagueastheWitchoftheWaste,onlyinagoodway.Lettie’sagoodgirlandI’mfondofher.IfMrs.Pentstemmonwasstillteaching,I’dhaveLettiegotohertomorrow.Butsheisn’t.SoIsaid,‘Lettie,here’sWizardHowlcourtingyouandyoucoulddoworsethantofallinlovewithhimyourselfandlethimbeyourteacher.Thepairofyouwillgofar.’Idon’tthinkLettiewastookeenontheideaatfirst,butshe’sbeensofteninglately,andtodayitseemstobegoingbeautifully.”
HereMrs.
