The Second Miracle

           Matildadidnotjointherushtogetoutoftheclassroom.Aftertheotherchildrenhadalldisappeared,sheremainedatherdesk,quietandthoughtful.Sheknewshehadtotellsomebodyaboutwhathadhappenedwiththeglass.Shecouldn’tpossiblykeepagiganticsecretlikethatbottledupinsideher.Whatsheneededwasjustoneperson,onewiseandsympatheticgrown-upwhocouldhelphertounderstandthemeaningofthisextraordinaryhappening.

           Neitherhermothernorherfatherwouldbeofanyuseatall.Iftheybelievedherstory,anditwasdoubtfultheywould,theyalmostcertainlywouldfailtorealisewhatanastoundingeventitwasthathadtakenplaceintheclassroomthatafternoon.Onthespurofthemoment,MatildadecidedthattheonepersonshewouldliketoconfideinwasMissHoney.

           MatildaandMissHoneywerenowtheonlytwoleftintheclass-room.MissHoneyhadseatedherselfathertableandwasrifflingthroughsomepapers.Shelookedupandsaid,"Well,Matilda,aren’tyougoingoutsidewiththeothers?"

           Matildasaid,"PleasemayItalktoyouforamoment?""Ofcourseyoumay.What’stroublingyou?""Somethingverypeculiarhashappenedtome,MissHoney."

           MissHoneybecameinstantlyalert.EversincethetwodisastrousmeetingsshehadhadrecentlyaboutMatilda,thefirstwiththeHeadmistressandthesecondwiththedreadfulMrandMrsWormwood,MissHoneyhadbeenthinkingagreatdealaboutthischildandwonderinghowshecouldhelpher.