Chapter 6

           Howldidnotgooutthatday,norforthenextfewdays.Sophiesatquietlyinthechairbythehearth,keepingoutofhiswayandthinking.Shesawthat,muchasHowldeservedit,shehadbeentakingoutherfeelingsonthecastlewhenshewasreallyangrywiththeWitchoftheWaste.Andshewasalittleupsetatthethoughtthatshewashereonfalsepretenses.HowlmightthinkCalciferlikedher,butSophieknewCalciferhadsimplyseizedonachancetomakeabargainwithher.SophieratherthoughtshehadletCalciferdown.

           Thisstateofminddidnotlast.SophiediscoveredapileofMichael’sclothesthatneededmending.Shefetchedoutthimble,scissors,andthreadfromhersewingpocketandsettowork.BythateveningshewascheerfulenoughtojoininCalcifer’ssillylittlesongaboutsaucepans.

           “Happyinyourwork?”Howlsaidsarcastically.

           “Ineedmoretodo,”Sophiesaid.

           “Myoldsuitneedsmending,ifyouhavetofeelbusy,”saidHowl.

           ThisseemedtomeanthatHowlwasnolongerannoyed.Sophiewasrelieved.Shehadbeenalmostfrightenedthatmorning.

           ItwasclearHowlhadnotyetcaughtthegirlhewasafter.SophielistenedtoMichaelaskingratherobviousquestionsaboutit,andHowlslitheringneatlyoutofansweringanyofthem.“Heisaslitherer-outer,”SophiemurmuredtoapairofMichael’ssocks.“Can’tfacehisownwickedness.”ShewatchedHowlbeingrestlesslybusyinordertohidehisdiscontent.ThatwassomethingSophieunderstoodratherwell.