Ходячий замок
Chapter 11
“I’lltakeasmallguessthatyoumaybeHowellJenkins,”MissAngoriansaidtoHowl.Shehadalow,melodiousvoicethatwasneverthelessratheramusedandquitesureofitself.
Howlwastakenabackforaninstant.Thenhissmilesnappedon.Andthat,Sophiethought,wasgoodbyetothepleasantdreamsofLettieandMrs.Fairfax.ForMissAngorianwasexactlythekindofladysomeonelikeHowlcouldbetrustedtofallinlovewithonthespot.AndnotonlyHowl.Michaelwasstaringadmiringlytoo.Andthoughallthehousesaroundwereapparentlydeserted,SophiehadnodoubtthattheywerefullofpeoplewhoallknewbothHowlandMissAngorianandwerewatchingwithinteresttoseewhatwouldhappen.Shecouldfeeltheirinvisibleeyes.MarketChippingwaslikethattoo.
“AndyoumustbeMissAngorian,”saidHowl.“I’msorrytobotheryou,butImadeastupidmistakelastweekandcarriedoffmynephew’sEnglishhomeworkinsteadofaratherimportantpaperIhadwithme.IgatherNeilgaveittoyouasproofthathewasn’tshirking.”
“Hedid,”saidMissAngorian.“You’dbettercomeinandcollectit.”
SophiewassuretheinvisibleeyesinallthehousesgoggledandtheinvisibleneckscranedasHowlandMichaelandshetroopedinthroughMissAngorian’sdoorandupaflightofstairstoMissAngorian’stiny,severelivingroom.
MissAngoriansaidconsideratelytoSophie,“Won’tyousitdown?”
Sophiewasstillshakingfromthathorselesscarriage.Shesatdowngladlyononeofthetwochairs.Itwasnotverycomfortable.
