Ходячий замок

           Demonsdonotunderstandgoodandevil.Buttheycanbebribedintoacontract,providedthehumanoffersthemsomethingvaluable,somethingonlyhumanshave.Thisprolongsthelifeofbothhumananddemon,andthehumangetsthedemon’smagicpowertoaddtohisorherown.”Mrs.Pentstemmonopenedhereyesagain.“ThatisallIcanbeartosayonthesubject,”shesaid,“excepttoadviseyoutofindoutwhatthatdemongot.NowImustbidyoufarewell.Ihavetorestawhile.”

           Andlikemagic,whichitprobablywas,thedooropenedandthepageboycameintousherSophieoutoftheroom.Sophiewasextremelygladtogo.Shewasallbutsquirmingwithembarrassmentbythen.ShelookedbackatMrs.Pentstemmon’srigid,uprightformasthedoorclosedandwonderedifMrs.PentstemmonwouldhavemadeherfeelthisbadifshehadreallyandtrulybeenHowl’soldmother.Sophieratherthoughtshewould.“ItakemyhatofftoHowlforstandingherasateacherformorethanaday!”shemurmuredtoherself.

           “Madam?”askedthepageboy,thinkingSophiewastalkingtohim.

           “IsaidgoslowlydownthestairsorIcan’tkeepup,”Sophietoldhim.Herkneeswerewobbling.“Youyoungboysdashaboutso,”shesaid.

           Thepageboytookherslowlyandconsideratelydowntheshinystairs.Halfwaydown,SophierecoveredenoughfromMrs.Pentstemmon’spersonalitytothinkofsomeofthethingsMrs.Pentstemmonhadactuallysaid.ShehadsaidSophiewasawitch.Oddlyenough,Sophieacceptedthiswithoutanytroubleatall.Thatexplainedthepopularityofcertainhats,shethought