Ходячий замок
Chapter 2
“MaybeIambeingexploited,”shetoldahatshewastrimmingwithredsilkandabunchofwaxcherries,“butsomeonehastodothisortherewillbenohatsatalltosell.”Shefinishedthathatandstartedonastarkblack-and-whiteone,verymodish,andaquitenewthoughtcametoher.“Doesitmatteriftherearenohatstosell?”sheaskedit.Shelookedroundattheassembledhats,onstandsorwaitinginaheaptobetrimmed.“Whatgoodareyouall?”sheaskedthem.“Youcertainlyaren’tdoingmeascrapofgood.”
Andshewaswithinanaceofleavingthehouseandsettlingouttoseekherfortune,untilsherememberedshewastheeldestandtherewasnopoint.Shetookupthehatagain,sighing.
Shewasstilldiscontented,aloneintheshopnextmorning,whenaveryplainyoungwomancustomerstormedin,whirlingapleatedmushroombonnetbyitsribbons.“Lookatthis!”theyoungladyshrieked.“YoutoldmethiswasthesameasthebonnetJaneFarrierwaswearingwhenshemettheCount.Andyoulied.Nothinghashappenedtomeatall!”
“I’mnotsurprised,”Sophiesaid,beforeshehadcaughtupwithherself.“Ifyou’refoolenoughtowearthatbonnetwithafacelikethat,youwouldn’thavethewittospottheKinghimselfifhecameabegging—ifhehadn’tturnedtostonefirstjustatthesightofyou.”
Thecustomerglared.ThenshethrewthebonnetatSophieandstormedoutoftheshop.Sophiecarefullycrammedthebonnetintothewastebasket,pantingrather.Therulewas:Loseyourtemper,loseacustomer.Shehadjustproventhatrule.
