Ходячий замок
Chapter 1
“Showthemtheonesthatwon’tquitedofirst,sotheyknowthedifferenceassoonastheyputtherightoneon.”
Infact,Sophiedidnotsellhatsverymuch.Afteradayorsoobservingintheworkshed,andanotherdaygoingroundtheclothierandthesilkmerchant’swithFanny,Fannysethertotrimminghats.Sophiesatinasmallalcoveatthebackoftheshop,sewingrosestobonnetsandveilingtovelours,liningallofthemwithsilkandarrangingwaxfruitandribbonsstylishlyontheoutsides.Shewasgoodatit.Shequitelikeddoingit.Butshefeltsoisolatedandalittledull.Theworkshoppeopleweretoooldtobemuchfunand,besides,theytreatedherassomeoneapartwhowasgoingtoinheritthebusinesssomeday.Bessietreatedherthesameway.Bessie’sonlytalkanywaywasaboutthefarmershewasgoingtomarrytheweekafterMayDay.SophieratherenviedFanny,whocouldbustleofftobargainwiththesilkmerchantwhenevershewanted.
Themostinterestingthingwasthetalkfromthecustomers.Nobodycanbuyahatwithoutgossiping.SophiesatinheralcoveandstitchedandheardthattheMayorneverwouldeatgreenvegetables,andthatWizardHowl’scastlehadmovedroundtothecliffsagain,reallythatman,whisper,whisper,whisper….ThevoicesalwaysdroppedlowwhentheytalkedofWizardHowl,butSophiegatheredthathehadcaughtagirldownthevalleylastmonth.“Bluebeard!”saidthewhispers,andthenbecamevoicesagaintosaythatJaneFarrierwasaperfectdisgracethewayshedidherhair.
