Ходячий замок

           “Idonotthinkheiscleverenoughtocausemeconcern.IamtalkingaboutHowell,Mrs.Pendragon.”

           “Oh,”saidSophie,wonderingwhyMrs.Pentstemmononlysaid“going.”Howlhadsurelyarrivedatthebadlongago.

           “Takehiswholeappearance,”Mrs.Pentstemmonsaidsweepingly.“Lookathisclothes.”

           “Heisalwaysverycarefulabouthisappearance,”Sophieagreed,wonderingwhyshewasputtingitsomildly.

           “Andalwayswas.Iamcarefulaboutmyappearancetoo,andIseenotharminthat,”saidMrs.Pentstemmon.“Butwhatcallhashetobewalkingaroundinacharmedsuit?Itisadazzlingattractioncharm,directedatladies—verywelldone,Iadmit,andbarelydetectableeventomytrainedeyes,sinceitappearstohavebeendarnedintotheseams—andonewhichwillrenderhimalmostirresistibletoladies.Thisrepresentsadownwardtrendintoblackartswhichmustsurelycauseyousomemotherlyconcern,Mrs.Pendragon.”

           Sophiethoughtuneasilyaboutthegray-and-scarletsuit.Shehaddarnedtheseamswithoutnoticingithadanythingparticularaboutit.ButMrs.Pentstemmonwasanexpertonmagic,andSophiewasonlyanexpertonclothes.

           Mrs.PentstemmonputbothgoldmittensontopofherstickandcantedherstiffbodysothatbothhertrainedandpiercingeyesstaredintoSophie’s.Sophiefeltmoreandmorenervousanduneasy.“Mylifeisnearlyover,”Mrs.Pentstemmonannounced.“Ihavefeltdeathtiptoeingcloseforsometimenow.”

           “Oh,I’msurethatisn’tso,”Sophiesaid,tryingtosoundsoothing.ItwashardtosoundlikeanythingwithMrs.