Ходячий замок
Chapter 2
Butshewasrelievedtodiscoverthatshewasquiteahaleoldwoman.Shedidnotfeelweakorill,juststiff.Shehobbledtocollecthershawl,andwrappeditoverherheadandshoulders,asoldwomendid.Thensheshuffledthroughintothehouse,whereshecollectedherpursewithafewcoinsinitandaparcelofbreadandcheese.Sheletherselfoutofthehouse,carefullyhidingthekeyintheusualplace,andhobbledawaydownthestreet,surprisedathowcalmshestillfelt.
ShedidwonderifsheshouldsaygoodbyetoMartha.ButshedidnotliketheideaofMarthanotknowingher.Itwasbestjusttogo.Sophiedecidedshewouldwritetobothhersisterswhenshegotwherevershewasgoing,andshuffledon,thoughthefieldwheretheFairhadbeen,overthebridge,andonintothecountrylanesbeyond.Itwasawarmspringday.SophiediscoveredthatbeingacronedidnotstopherfromenjoyingthesightandsmellofMayinthehedgerows,thoughhersightwasalittleblurred.Herbackbegantoache.Shehobbledsturdilyenough,butsheneededastick.Shesearchedthehedgesasshewentforaloosestakeofsomekind.
Evidently,hereyeswerenotasgoodastheyhadbeen.Shethoughtshesawastick,amileorsoon,butwhenshehauledonit,itprovedtobethebottomendofanoldscarecrowsomeonehadthrownintothehedge.Sophieheavedthethingupright.Ithadawitheredturnipforaface.Sophiefoundshehadsomefellowfeelingforit.
