Ходячий замок
Chapter 1
Whenthecarrier’scartwasoutofsight,Lettiecrammedallherpossessionsintoapillowcaseandpaidtheneighbor’sbootboysixpencetowheelitinawheelbarrowtoCesari’sinMarketSquare.LettiemarchedbehindthewheelbarrowlookingmuchmorecheerfulthanSophieexpected.Indeed.Shehadtheairofshakingthedustofthehatshopoffherfeet.
ThebootboybroughtbackascribblednotefromLettie,sayingshehadputherthingsinthegirls’dormitoryandCesari’sseemedgreatfun.AweeklaterthecarrierbroughtaletterfromMarthatosaythatMarthahadarrivedsafelyandthatMrs.Fairfaxwas“agreatdearandusedhoneywitheverything.Shekeepsbees.”ThatwasallSophieheardofhersistersforquiteawhilebecauseshestartedherownapprenticeshipthedayMarthaandLettieleft.
Sophieofcourseknewthehattradequitewellalready.Sinceshewasatinychildshehadruninandoutofthebigworkshedacrosstheyardwherethehatsweredampedandmoldedonblocks,andflowersandfruitandothertrimmingsweremadefromwaxandsilk.Sheknewthepeoplewhoworkedthere.Mostofthemhadbeentherewhenherfatherwasaboy.SheknewBessie,theonlyremainingshopassistant.Sheknewthecustomerswhoboughtthehatsandthemanwhodrovethecartwhichfetchedrawstrawhatsinfromthecountrytobeshapedontheblocksintheshed.Sheknewtheothersuppliersandhowyoumadefeltforwinterhats.TherewasnotreallymuchthatFannycouldteachher,exceptperhapsthebestwaytogetacustomertobuyahat.
“Youleaduptotherighthat,love,”Fannysaid.
