Ходячий замок

           Coward!Sophiethoughtscornfully.ShewonderedwhyshehadgonethroughallthattroubleforHowlyesterday.“Imusthavebeenmad!”shemutteredtotheblue-and-silversuit.

           “Whatabouttheblack-downentrance?”Michaelaskedwhenthepersonknockingseemedtohavegoneaway.

           “Thatstays,”Howlsaid,andconjuredhimselfanotherhandkerchiefwithafinalsortofflick.

           Itwould!Sophiethought.MissAngorianisoutsideit.PoorLettie!

           BythemiddleofthemorningHowlwasconjuringhandkerchiefsintwosandthrees.Theywerefloppysquaresofpaperreally,Sophiesaw.Hekeptsneezing.Hisvoicegrewhoarser.Hewasconjuringhandkerchiefsbythehalf-dozensoon.AshesfromtheusedoneswerepiledallroundCalcifer.

           “Oh,whyisthatwheneverIgotoWalesIalwayscomebackwithacold!”Howlcroakedandconjuredhimselfawholewadoftissues.

           Sophiesnorted.

           “Didyousaysomething?”Howlcroaked.

           “No,butIwasthinkingthatpeoplewhorunawayfromeverythingdeserveeverycoldtheyget,”Sophiesaid.“PeoplewhoareappointedtodosomethingbytheKingandgocourtingintheraininsteadhaveonlythemselvestoblame.”

           “Youdon’tknoweverythingIdo,Mrs.Moralizer,’Howlsaid.“WantmetowriteoutalistbeforeIgooutanothertime?IhavelookedforPrinceJustin.Courtingisn’ttheonlythingIdowhenIgoout.”

           “Whenhaveyoulooked?”saidSophie.

           “Oh,howyourearsflapandyourlongnosetwitches!”Howlcroaked.“Ilookedwhenhefirstdisappeared,ofcourse.