Chapter 19

           Howlopenedthedoortowardtheendoftheafternoonandsaunteredin,whistling.Heseemedtohavegotoverthemandrakeroot.ItdidnotmakeSophiefeelanybettertofindhehadnotgonetoWalesafterall.Shegavehimherveryfiercestglare.

           “Mercifulheavens!”Howlsaid.“Ithinkthatturnedmetostone!What’sthematter?”

           Sophieonlysnarled,“Whatsuitareyouwearing?”

           Howllookeddownathisblackgarments.“Doesitmatter?”

           “Yes!”growledSophie.“Anddon’tgivemethataboutbeinginmourning!Whichoneisitreally?”

           Howlshruggedandhelduponetrailingsleeveasifhewerenotsurewhichitwas.Hestaredatit,lookingpuzzled.Theblackcolorofitrandownwardfromhisshoulderintothepointed,hangingtip.Hisshoulderandthetopofhissleevegrewbrown,thengray,whilethepointedtipturnedinkierandinkier,untilHowlwaswearingabacksuitwithoneblue-and-silversleevewhoseendseemedtohavebeendippedintar.“Thatone,”hesaid,andlettheblackspreadbackuptohisshoulderagain.

           Sophiewassomehowmoreannoyedthanever.Shegaveawordlessgrumpofrage.

           “Sophie!”Howlsaidinhismostlaughing,pleadingway.

           Thedog-manpushedopentheyarddoorandshambledin.HeneverwouldletHowltalktoSophieforlong.

           Howlstaredatit.“You’vegotanOldEnglishsheepdognow,”hesaid,asifhewasgladofthedistraction.“Twodogsaregoingtotakealotoffeeding.”

           “There’sonlyonedog,”Sophiesaidcrossly.“He’sunderaspell.