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"No!"

"It's true! They're talking about it! Annagra a fit!"

"Are you sure?"

"Positive! Best of luck!"

"But I don't want the--" Tiffany pushed the tray into Lucy's arms "Look, can you take that around for et the, er, put the things in, er…got things to do…" She hurried down the steps to the cellar, which was suspiciously eainst the wall Granny Weatherwax hts crept up to whisper: You could do it, though She ramma annoys people She talks to theic (sorry, et on her nerves She'll make a mess of it, you know she will She just happens to be tall and wears lots of occult jewelry and looks iest Tiffany? Oh, she was good She knew she was good But didn't everyone know she didn't want to spend her life up here? Well, it had to be Annagramma, didn't it? Witches tended to be cautious and traditional, and she was the oldest of the coven Okay, a lot of witches didn't like Mrs Earwig, but Granny Weatherwax didn't exactly have many friends either She went back upstairs before she could be h the crowd She saw Mrs Earwig and Annagrairl looked worried, and hurried over when she caught sight of Tiffany She was red in the face "Have you heard anything?" she de to pile up used plates "You're trying to take the cottage away fro "Don't be silly! Me? I don't want a cottage at all!"

"So you say But soet it! Miss Level and Miss Pullunder have spoken up for you!"

"What? I couldn't possibly follow Miss Treason!"

"Well, of course that's what Mrs Earwig is telling everyone," said Annagra down a bit "Coh the Dark Door, Tiffany thought, as she viciously scraped food scraps into the garden for the birds The White Horse caot my brother and Roland back from the Queen of the Elves And I danced with the Wintersmith, who turned me into ten billion snowflakes No, I don't want to be in a cottage in these damp woods, I don't want to be a kind of slave to people who can't be bothered to think for theht and make people afraid of me There is no nah to do all those things, and I was acceptable But she said: "I don't knohat this is about!" At which point she felt so at her, and she knew, if she turned around, that it would be Granny Weatherwax Her Third Thoughts--the ones that paid attention out of the corner of her ear and the edge of her eye all the ti on All you can do about it is be yourself Don't look around "You're really not interested?" said Annagra," said Tiffany stiffly "And then I'e?"

"Well, of course! Every witch wants a cottage!"

"But they've had years and years of Miss Treason," Tiffany pointed out "Then they'll just have to get used to lad to see the back of skulls and cobwebs and being frightened! I know she's got the local people really scared of her"

"Ah," said Tiffany "I'll be a new brooramma "Frankly, Tiffany, after that old woman, just about anyone would be popular"

"Er, yes…" said Tiffany "Tell ramma, have you ever worked with any other witch?"

"No, I've always been with Mrs Earwig I'ramma added proudly "She's very exclusive"

"And she doesn't go around the villages much, does she?" said Tiffany "No She concentrates on the Higher Magik" Annagramma wasn't particularly observant and was very vain, even by the standard of witches, but now she looked a little less confident "Well, soers, you know," she added "Is there a probleet on well," said Tiffany "Er…I knoay around the place, so if you need any help, just ask"