Miss Honey’s Story

           "Wemustn’thurrythis,"MissHoneysaid,"solet’shaveanothercupoftea.Anddoeatthatothersliceofbread.Youmustbehungry."

           Matildatookthesecondsliceandstartedeatingitslowly.Themargarinewasn’tatallbad.Shedoubtedwhethershecouldhavetoldthedifferenceifshehadn’tknown."MissHoney,"shesaidsuddenly,"dotheypayyouverybadlyatourschool?"

           MissHoneylookedupsharply."Nottoobadly,"shesaid."Igetaboutthesameastheothers."

           "Butitmuststillbeverylittleifyouaresodreadfullypoor,"Matildasaid."Doalltheteacherslivelikethis,withnofurnitureandnokitchenstoveandnobathroom?"

           "No,theydon’t,"MissHoneysaidratherstiffly."Ijusthappentobetheexception."

           "Iexpectyoujusthappentolikelivinginaverysimpleway,"Matildasaid,probingalittlefurther."Itmustmakehousecleaninganawfulloteasierandyoudon’thavefurnituretopolishoranyofthosesillylittleornamentslyingaroundthathavetobedustedeveryday.AndIsupposeifyoudon’thaveafridgeyoudon’thavetogooutandbuyallsortsofjunkythingslikeeggsandmayonnaiseandice-creamtofillitupwith.Itmustsaveaterrificlotofshopping."

           AtthispointMatildanoticedthatMissHoney’sfacehadgonealltightandpeculiar-looking.Herwholebodyhadbecomerigid.Hershoulderswerehuncheduphighandherlipswerepressedtogethertightandshesattheregrippinghermugofteainbothhandsandstaringdownintoitasthoughsearchingforawaytoanswerthesenot-quite-so-innocentquestions.