Miss Honey’s Cottage

           MissHoneyjoinedMatildaoutsidetheschoolgatesandthetwoofthemwalkedinsilencethroughthevillageHighStreet.Theypassedthegreengrocerwithhiswindowfullofapplesandoranges,andthebutcherwithbloodylumpsofmeatondisplayandnakedchickenshangingup,andthesmallbank,andthegrocerystoreandtheelectricalshop,andthentheycameoutattheothersideofthevillageontothenarrowcountryroadwheretherewerenopeopleanymoreandveryfewmotor-cars.

           Andnowthattheywerealone,Matildaallofasuddenbecamewildlyanimated.Itseemedasthoughavalvehadburstinsideherandagreatgushofenergywasbeingreleased.ShetrottedbesideMissHoneywithwildlittlehopsandherfingersflewasifshewouldscatterthemtothefourwindsandherwordswentofflikefireworks,withterrificspeed.ItwasMissHoneythisandMissHoneythatandMissHoneyIdohonestlyfeelIcouldmovealmostanythingintheworld,notjusttippingoverglassesandlittlethingslikethat...IfeelIcouldtoppletablesandchairs,MissHoney...EvenwhenpeoplearesittinginthechairsIthinkIcouldpushthemover,andbiggerthingstoo,muchbiggerthingsthanchairsandtables...IonlyhavetotakeamomenttogetmyeyesstrongandthenIcanpushitout,thisstrongness,atanythingatallsolongasIamstaringatithardenough...