Матильда

           Itseemedsounrealandremoteandfantasticandsototallyawayfromthisearth.ItwaslikeanillustrationinGrimmorHansAndersen.ItwasthehousewherethepoorwoodcutterlivedwithHanselandGretelandwhereRedRidingHood’sgrandmotherlivedanditwasalsothehouseofTheSevenDwarfsandTheThreeBearsandalltherestofthem.Itwasstraightoutofafairy-tale.

           "Comealong,mydear,"MissHoneycalledback,andMatildafollowedherupthepath.

           Thefront-doorwascoveredwithflakygreenpaintandtherewasnokeyhole.MissHoneysimplyliftedthelatchandpushedopenthedoorandwentin.Althoughshewasnotatallwoman,shehadtostooplowtogetthroughthedoorway.Matildawentafterherandfoundherselfinwhatseemedtobeadarknarrowtunnel.

           "Youcancomethroughtothekitchenandhelpmemakethetea,"MissHoneysaid,andsheledthewayalongthetunnelintothekitchen—thatisifyoucouldcallitakitchen.Itwasnotmuchbiggerthanagood-sizedclothescupboardandtherewasonesmallwindowinthebackwallwithasinkunderthewindow,buttherewerenotapsoverthesink.Againstanotherwalltherewasashelf,presumablyforpreparingfood,andtherewasasinglecupboardabovetheshelf.OntheshelfitselftherestoodaPrimusstove,asaucepanandahalf-fullbottleofmilk.APrimusisalittlecamping-stovethatyoufillwithparaffinandyoulightitatthetopandthenyoupumpittogetpressurefortheflame.

           "YoucangetmesomewaterwhileIlightthePrimus,"MissHoneysaid."Thewellisoutattheback.