Ходячий замок
Chapter 12
Pentstemmonsaidwithwhatmayhavebeenslight,statelyenvy.“Howluckyyouaretomovesonimblystill.”
“Oh,yes,she’ssowonderfullynimble,”Howlagreed,“thatsometimesthere’snostoppingher.”
Mrs.PentstemmongavehimalookwhichtoldSophieshehadbeenateacheratleastasfierceasMissAngorian.“Iamtalkingtoyourmother,”shesaid.“IdaresaysheisasproudofyouasIam.Wearetwooldladieswhobothhadahandinformingyou.Youare,onemightsay,ourjointcreation.”
“Don’tyouthinkIdidanyofmemyself,then?”Howlasked.“Putinjustafewtouchesofmyown?”
“Afew,andthosenotaltogethertomyliking,”Mrs.Pentstemmonreplied.“Butyouwillnotwishtosithereandhearyourselfbeingdiscussed.Youwillgodownandsitontheterrace,takingyourpageboywithyou,whereHunchwillbringyoubothacooldrink.Goalong.”
IfSophiehadnotbeensonervousherself,shemighthavelaughedattheexpressiononHowl’sface.Hehadobviouslynotexpectedthistohappenatall.Buthegotup,withonlyalightshrug,madeaslightwarningfaceatSophie,andshooedMichaeloutoftheroomaheadofhim.Mrs.Pentstemmonturnedherrigidbodyveryslightlytowatchthemgo.Thenshenoddedatthepageboy,whoscuttledoutoftheroomtoo.Afterthat,Mrs.PentstemmonturnedherselfbacktowardSophie,andSophiefeltmorenervousthanever.
“Ipreferhimwithblackhair,”Mrs.Pentstemmonannounced.“Thatboyisgoingtothebad.”
“Who?Michael?”Sophiesaid,bewildered.
“Nottheservitor,”saidMrs.Pentstemmon.
