Ходячий замок

           ThatwasonewhowouldneverattractevenWizardHowl,letalonearespectableman.Thentherewouldbeafleeting,fearfulwhisperabouttheWitchoftheWaste.SophiebegantofeelthatWizardHowlandtheWitchoftheWasteshouldgettogether.

           “Theyseemtobemadeforoneanother.Someoneoughttoarrangeamatch,”sheremarkedtothehatshewastrimmingatthatmoment.

           ButbytheendofthemonththegossipintheshopwassuddenlyallaboutLettie.Cesari’s,itseemed,waspackedwithgentlemenfrommorningtonight,eachonebuyingquantitiesofcakesanddemandingtobeservedbyLettie.Shehadtenproposalsofmarriage,ranginginqualityfromtheMayor’ssontotheladwhosweptthestreets,andshehadrefusedthemall,sayingshewastooyoungtomakeuphermindyet.

           “Icallthatsensibleofher,”Sophiesaidtothebonnetshewaspleatingsilkinto.

           Fannywaspleasedwiththisnews.“Iknewshe’dbeallright!”shesaidhappily.ItoccurredtoSophiethatFannywasgladLettiewasnolongeraround.

           “Lettie’sbadforcustom,”shetoldthebonnet,pleatingawayatthemushroom-coloredsilk.“Shewouldmakeevenyoulookglamorous,youdowdyoldthing.OtherladieslookatLettieanddespair.”

           Sophietalkedtohatsmoreandmoreasweekswentby.Therewasnooneelsemuchtotalkto.Fannywasoutbargaining,ortryingtowhipupcustom,muchoftheday,andBessiewasbusyservingandtellingeveryoneherweddingplans.