Ходячий замок

           “HethoughtIwasawitch!”shesaidtoherstick.Shehadhalfamindtoscaretheshepherdbyshoutingnastythingsafterhim,butthatseemedalittleunkind.Shepluggedonuphill,mumbling.Shortly,thehedgesgavewaytobarebanksandthelandbeyondbecameheatheryupland,withalotofsteepnessbeyondthatcoveredwithyellow,rattlinggrass.Sophiekeptgrimlyon.Bynowherknobbyoldfeetached,andherback,andherknees.Shebecametootiredtomumbleandsimplypluggedon,panting,untilthesunwasquitelow.AndallatonceitbecamequitecleartoSophiethatshecouldnotwalkastepfurther.

           Shecollapsedontoastonebythewayside,wonderingwhatshewoulddonow.“TheonlyfortuneIcanthinkofisacomfortablechair!”shegasped.

           Thestoneprovedtobeonasortofheadland,whichgaveSophieamagnificentviewofthewayshehadcome.Therewasmostofthevalleyspreadoutbeneathherinthesettingsun,allfieldsandwallsandhedges,thewindingoftheriver,andthefinemansionsofrichpeopleglowingoutfromclumpsoftrees,rightdowntobluemountainsinthefardistance.JustbelowherwasMarketChipping.Sophiecouldlookdownintoitswell-knownstreets.TherewasMarketSquareandCesari’s.Shecouldhavetossedastonedownthechimneypotsofthehousenexttothehatshop.

           “Hownearitstillis!”Sophietoldherstickindismay.“Allthatwalkingjusttogetabovemyownrooftop!”

           Itgotcoldonthestoneasthesunwentdown.AnunpleasantwindblewwhicheverwaySophieturnedtoavoidit.