Ходячий замок
Chapter 5
HecrackledwithmeanlaughterwhenSophiediscoveredthatsoothadgotallovertheroomandshehadtocleanitallagain.ThatwasSophie’strouble.Shewasremorseless,butshelackedmethod.Buttherewasamethodtoherremorselessness:shecalculatedthatshecouldnotcleanthisthoroughlywithoutsoonerorlatercomingacrossHowl’shiddenhoardofgirls’souls,orcheweduphearts—orelsesomethingthatexplainedCalcifer’scontract.Upthechimney,guardedbyCalcifer,hadstruckherasagoodhidingplace.Buttherewasnothingtherebutquantitiesofsoot,whichSophiestoredinbagsintheyard.Theyardwashighonherlistofhidingplaces.
EverytimeHowlcamein,MichaelandCalcifercomplainedloudlyaboutSophie.ButHowldidnotseemtoattend.Notdidheseemtonoticethecleanliness.Andnordidhenoticethatthefoodclosetbecameverywellstockedwithcakesandjamandtheoccasionallettuce.
For,asMichaelhadprophesied,wordhadgoneroundPorthaven.PeoplecametothedoortolookatSophie.TheycalledherMrs.WitchinPorthavenandMadamSorceressinKingsbury.ThoughthepeoplewhocametotheKingsburydoorwerebetterdressedthanthoseinPorthaven,nooneineitherplacelikedtocallonsomeonesopowerfulwithoutanexcuse.SoSophiewasalwayshavingtopauseinherworktonodandsmileandtakeinagift,ortogetMichaeltoputupaquickspellforsomeone.Someofthegiftswerenicethings—pictures,stringsofshells,andusefulaprons.
