Ходячий замок
Chapter 14
IwascurioustoknowwhatPrinceJustinwasdoingupthisway,wheneveryoneknewSulimanhadgonetotheWaste.Ithinksomeonemusthavesoldhimadudfindingspell,becausehewentrightoverintotheFoldingValleyandboughtanotherfromMrs.Fairfax.Andthatfetchedhimbackthisway,fairlynaturally,wherehestoppedatthecastleandMichaelsoldhimanotherfindingspellandadisguisespell—”
Michael’shandwentoverhismouth.“WasthatmaninthegreenuniformPrinceJustin?”
“Yes,butIdidn’tmentionthematterbefore,”saidHowl,“becausetheKingmighthavethoughtyoushouldhavehadthesensetosellhimanotherdud.Ihadaconscienceaboutit.Conscience.Noticethatword,Mrs.Longnose.Ihadaconscience.”HowlconjuredanotherwadofhandkerchiefsandgloweredatSophieoverthemoutofeyesthatwerenowred-rimmedandwatery.Thenhestoodup.“Ifeelill,”heannounced.“I’mgoingtobed,whereImaydie.”Hetotteredpiteouslytothestairs.“BurymebesideMrs.Pentstemmon,”hecroakedashewentupthemtobed.
Sophieappliedherselftohersewingharderthanever.Herewasherchancetogetthegray-and-scarletsuitoffHowlbeforeitdidmoredamagetoMissAngorian’sheart-unless,ofcourse,Howlwenttobedinhisclothes,whichshedidnotputpasthim.SoHowlmusthavebeenlookingforPrinceJustinwhenhewenttoUpperfoldingandmetLettie.PoorLettie!Sophiethought,puttingbrisk,tinystitchesroundherfifty-seventhbluetriangle.Onlyanotherfortyorsotogo.
