Ходячий замок
Chapter 1
Sophiegotintothehabitofputtingeachhatonthestandasshefinishedit,whereitsatalmostlookinglikeaheadwithoutabody,andpausingwhileshetoldthehatwhatthebodyunderitoughttobelike.Sheflatteredthehatsabit,becauseyoushouldflattercustomers.
“Youhavemysteriousallure,”shetoldonethatwasallveilingwithhiddentwinkles.Toawide,creamyhatwithrosesunderthebrim,shesaid,“Youaregoingtohavetomarrymoney!”andtoacaterpillar-greenstrawwithacurlygreenfeathershesaid,“Youareyoungasaspringleaf.”Shetoldpinkbonnetstheyhaddimpledcharmandsmarthatstrimmedwithvelvetthattheywerewitty.Shetoldthemushroom-pleatedbonnet,“Youhaveaheartofgoldandsomeoneinahighpositionwillseeitandfallinlovewithyou.”Thiswasbecauseshewassorryforthatparticularbonnet.Itlookedsofussyandplain.
JaneFarriercameintotheshopnextdayandboughtit.Herhairdidlookalittlestrange,Sophiethought,peepingoutofheralcove,asifJanehadwounditroundarowofpokers.Itseemedapityshehadchosenthatbonnet.Buteveryoneseemedtobebuyinghatsandbonnetsaroundthen.MaybeitwasFanny’ssalestalkormaybeitwasspringcomingon,butthehattradewasdefinitelypickingup.Fannybegantosay,alittleguiltily,“IthinkIshouldn’thavebeeninsuchahurrytogetMarthaandLettieplacedout.Atthisratewemighthavemanaged.”
TherewassomuchcustomasAprildrewontowardsMayDaythatSophiehadtoputonademuregraydressandhelpintheshoptoo.
