Ходячий замок
Chapter 2
Fairfaxpretendingtobeme.Thedifficultpartwasthefirstweek,whenIdidn’tknowallthethingsIwassupposedtoknow.Itwasawful.ButIdiscoveredthatpeoplelikeme—theydo,youknow,ifyoulikethem—andthenitwasallright.AndMrs.Fairfaxhasn’tkickedLettieout,soIsupposeshemanagedtoo.”
Sophiechompedatcakeshewasnotreallytasting.“Butwhatmadeyouwanttodothis?”
Martharockedonherstool,grinningalloverLettie’sface,twirlingherthumbsinahappypinkwhirl.“Iwanttogetmarriedandhavetenchildren.”
“You’renotquiteoldenough!”saidSophie.
“Notquite,”Marthaagreed.“ButyoucanseeI’vegottostartquitesooninordertofittenchildrenin.AndthiswaygivesmetimetowaitandseeifthepersonIwantlikesmeforbeingme.Thespell’sgoingtowearoffgradually,andIshallgetmoreandmorelikemyself,yousee.”
Sophiewassoastonishedthatshefinishedhercakewithoutnoticingwhatkindithadbeen.“Whytenchildren?”
“Becausethat’showmanyIwant,”SaidMartha.
“Ineverknew!”
“Well,itwasn’tmuchgoodgoingonaboutitwhenyouweresobusybackingMotherupaboutmemakingmyfortune,”Marthasaid.“YouthoughtMothermeantit.Ididtoo,untilFatherdiedandIsawshewasjusttryingtogetridofus—puttingLettiewhereshewasboundtomeetalotofmenandgetmarriedoff,andsendingmeasfarawayasshecould!IwassoangryIthought,Whynot?AndIspoketoLettieandshewasjustasangryandwefixeditup.We’refinenow.Butwebothfeelbadaboutyou.
