Ходячий замок

           Shedidnotblamethem.Ifyoujustwantaroseforabuttonhole,youdonotwanttobeforcedtobuythreedozenorchids.ShedidnotdiscourageHowlwhenHowltooktospendinglonghoursintheworkshedacrosstheyard.

           “I’msettingupdefensesagainsttheWitch,beforeyouask,”hesaid.“BythetimeI’vefinished,therewillbenowayshecangetintoanypartofthisplace.”

           Therewassometimesaproblemwithleftoverflowers.Sophiecouldnotbeartoseethemwiltingovernight.Shefoundshecouldkeepthemfairlyfreshifshetalkedtothem.Afterthat,shetalkedtoflowersalot.ShegotMichaeltomakeheraplant-nutritionspell,andsheexperimentedinbucketsinthesink,andintubsinthealcovewheresheusedtotrimhats.Shefoundshecouldkeepsomeplantsfreshfordays.Soofcoursesheexperimentedsomemore.Shegotthesootoutoftheyardandplantedthingsinit,mutteringbusily.Shegrewanavy-blueroselikethat,whichpleasedhergreatly.Itsbudswerecoalblack,anditsflowersopenedbluerandblueruntiltheybecamealmostthesameblueasCalcifer.Sophiewassodelightedwithitthatshetookrootsfromallthebagshangingonthebeamsandexperimentedwiththose.Shetoldherselfshehadneverbeenhappierinherlife.

           Thiswasnottrue.Somethingwaswrong,andSophiecouldnotunderstandwhat.SometimesshethoughtitwasthewaynooneinMarketChippingrecognizedher.ShedidnotdaregoandseeMartha,forfearMarthawouldnotknowhereither.Shedidnotdaretiptheflowersoutoftheseven-leaguebootsandgoandseeLettieforthesamereason.