Ходячий замок
Chapter 13
“Itcomesofbeingtheeldest,”shemutteredwhileshewasshovingtheheavydoorsopen.“Youjustcan’twin!”
Andherewasanotherthingwhichhadgonewrong.Inherannoyanceanddisappointment,Sophiehadsomehowcomeoutthroughthewrongsetofdoubledoors.Thisanteroomhadmirrorsallroundit.Inthemshecouldseeherownlittlebent,hobblingshapeinitsfinegraydress,agreatmanypeopleinblueCourtdress,othersinsuitsasfineasHowl’s,butnoMichael.Michaelofcoursewashangingaboutintheanteroompaneledinahundredkindsofwood.
“Oh,drat!”saidSophie.
Oneofthecourtiershasteneduptoherandbowed.“MadamSorceress!CanIbeofassistance?”
Hewasanundersizedyoungman,ratherred-eyes.Sophiestaredathim.“Oh,goodgracious!”shesaid.“Sothespellworked!”
“Itdidindeed,”saidthesmallcourtieralittleruefully.“Idisarmedhimwhilehewassneezingandheisnowsuingme.Buttheimportantthing—”hisfacespreadintoahappysmile—“isthatmydearJanehascomebacktome!Now,whatcanIdoforyou?Ifeelresponsibleforyourhappiness.”
“I’mnotsurethatitmightn’tbetheotherwayround,”Sophiesaid.“AreyoubyanychancethecountofCatterack?”
“Atyourservice,”saidthesmallcourtier,bowing.
JaneFarriermustbeagoodfoottallerthanheis!Sophiethought.Itisalldefinitelymyfault.“Yes,youcanhelpme,”shesaid,andexplainedaboutMichael.
TheCountofCatterackassuredherthatMichaelwouldbefetchedandbroughtdowntotheentrancehalltomeether.Itwasnotroubleatall.
