Chapter 7

           OnlyaparticularlybadattackofachesandpainspreventedSophiefromsettingoutforMarketChippingthatevening.ButthedrizzleinPorthavenhadgottenintoherbones.ShelayinhercubbyholeandachedandworriedaboutMartha.Itmightnotbesobad,shethought.SheonlyhadtotellMarthathatthesuitorshewasnotsureaboutwasnoneotherthanWizardHowl.ThatwouldscareMarthaoff.AndshewouldtellMarthathatthewaytoscareHowloffwastoannouncethatshewasinlovewithhim,andthenperhapstothreatenhimwithaunts.

           Sophiewasstillcreakingwhenshegotupnextmorning.“CursetheWitchoftheWaste!”shemutteredtoherstickasshegotitout,readytoleave.ShecouldhearHowlsinginginthebathroomasifhehadneverhadatantruminhislife.Shetiptoedtothedoorasfastasshecouldhobble.

           Howlofcoursecameoutofthebathroombeforeshereachedit.Sophielookedathimsourly.Hewasallspruceanddashing,scentedgentlywithappleblossom.Thesunlightfromthewindowdazzledoffhisgray-and-scarletsuitandmadeafaintlypinkhaloofhishair.

           “Ithinkmyhairlooksrathergoodthiscolor,”hesaid.

           “Doyouindeed?”grumpedSophie.

           “Itgoeswiththissuit,”saidHowl.“Youhavequiteatouchwithyourneedle,don’tyou?You’vegiventhesuitmorestylesomehow.”

           “Huh!”saidSophie.

           Howlstoppedwithhishandontheknobabovethedoor.“Achesandpainstroublingyou?”hesaid.“Orhassomethingannoyedyou?”

           “Annoyed?”saidSophie.