Chapter 10

           HowlmusthavecomebackwhileSophieandMichaelwereout.HecameoutofthebathroomwhileSophiewasfryingbreakfastonCalcifer,andsatgracefullyinthechair,groomedandglowingandsmellingofhoneysuckle.

           “DearSophie,”hesaid.“Alwaysbusy.Youwerehardatworkyesterday,weren’tyou,inspiteofmyadvice?Whyhaveyoumadeajigsawpuzzleofmybestsuit?Justafriendlyinquiry,youknow.”

           “Youjelliedittheotherday,”saidSophie.“I’mmakingitover.”

           “Icandothat,”saidHowl.“IthoughtIshowedyou.Icanalsomakeyouapairofseven-leaguebootsofyourownifyougivemeyoursize.Somethingpracticalinbrowncalf,perhaps.It’samazingthewayonecantakeasteptenandhalfmileslongandstillalwayslandinacowpat.”

           “Itmayhavebeenabullpat,”saidSophie.“Idaresayyoufoundmudfromthemarshesonthemtoo.Apersonmyageneedsalotofexercise.”

           “YouwereevenbusierthanIrealized,then,”saidHowl.“BecausewhenIhappenedtotearmyeyesfromLettie’slovelyfaceforaninstantyesterday,IcouldhaveswornIsawyourlongnosepokingroundthecornerofthehouse.”

           “Mrs.Fairfaxisafamilyfriend,”saidSophie.“HowwasItoknowyouwouldbetheretoo?”

           “Youhaveaninstinct,Sophie,that’show,”saidhowl.“”Nothingissafefromyou.IfIweretocourtagirlwholivedonaniceberginthemiddleofanocean,soonerorlater—probablysooner—I’dlookuptoseeyouswoopingoverheadonabroomstick.Infact,bynowI’dbedisappointedinyouifIdidn’tseeyou.