Chapters 7 through 9 Summary

In Chapter 7, Sophie plans to go find Martha and warn her that her suitor is none other than the evil Wizard Howl, but a particularly bad fit of aches keeps her inside. When Sophie finally decides to go down to Market Chipping, Howl rushes out of the door past her, headed to an audience with the king. When Howl has left, and Sophie tries once again to leave, Michael pushes past her, rushing out the door. When Sophie again tries to leave, Calcifer stops her, asking that she leave some logs in his reach. Finally, when Sophie manages to get to the door, she hears a knock on the castle door. Believing that it is Michael come back already, she opens the door. Instead of Michael, Sophie finds a scarecrow looking back at her. It is the scarecrow that she propped...