Ходячий замок
Chapter 1
Andwhenayoungmaninafantasticalblue-and-silvercostumespottedSophieanddecidedtoaccostheraswell,Sophieshrankintoashopdoorwayandtriedtohide.
Theyoungmanlookedatherinsurprise.“It’sallright,youlittlegraymouse,”hesaid,laughingratherpityingly.“Ionlywanttobuyyouadrink.Don’tlooksoscared.”
ThepityinglookmadeSophieutterlyashamed.Hewassuchadashingspecimentoo,withabony,sophisticatedface—reallyquiteold,wellintohistwenties—andelaborateblondehair.HissleevestrailedlongerthananyintheSquare,allscallopededgesandsilverinsets.“Oh,nothankyou,ifyouplease,sir,”Sophiestammered.“I—I’monmywaytoseemysister.”
“Thenbyallmeansdoso,”laughedthisadvancedyoungman.“WhoamItokeepaprettyladyfromhersister?Wouldyoulikemetogowithyou,sinceyouseemsoscared?”
Hemeantitkindly,whichmadeSophiemoreashamedthanever.“No.Nothankyou,sir!”shegaspedandfledawaypasthim.Heworeperfumetoo.Thesmellofhyacinthsfollowedherassheran.Whatacourtlyperson!Sophiethought,asshepushedherwaybetweenthelittletablesoutsideCesari’s.
Thetableswerepacked.InsidewaspackedandasnoisyastheSquare.SophielocatedLettieamongthelineofassistantsatthecounterbecauseofthegroupofevidentfarmer’sonsleaningtheirelbowsonittoshoutremarkstoher.
