Матильда

           Iknowyouareonlyatinylittlegirl,butthereissomekindofmagicinyousomewhere.I’veseenitwithmyowneyes."

           Matildabecameveryalert.Thevoiceshewashearingwassurelycryingoutforhelp.Itmustbe.Ithadtobe.

           Thenthevoicespokeagain."Havesomemoretea,"itsaid.

           "Ithinkthere’sstilladropleft."

           Matildanodded.

           MissHoneypouredteaintobothmugsandaddedmilk.Againshecuppedherownmuginbothhandsandsattheresipping.

           Therewasquitealongsilencebeforeshesaid,"MayItellyouastory?"

           "Ofcourse,"Matildasaid.

           "Iamtwenty-threeyearsold,"MissHoneysaid,"andwhenIwasbornmyfatherwasadoctorinthisvillage.Wehadaniceoldhouse,quitelarge,red-brick.It’stuckedawayinthewoodsbehindthehills.Idon’tthinkyou’dknowit."

           Matildakeptsilent.

           "Iwasbornthere,"MissHoneysaid."Andthencamethefirsttragedy.MymotherdiedwhenIwastwo.Myfather,abusydoctor,hadtohavesomeonetorunthehouseandtolookafterme.Soheinvitedmymother’sunmarriedsister,myaunt,tocomeandlivewithus.Sheagreedandshecame."

           Matildawaslisteningintently."Howoldwastheauntwhenshemovedin?"sheasked.

           "Notveryold,"MissHoneysaid."Ishouldsayaboutthirty.ButIhatedherrightfromthestart.Imissedmymotherterribly.Andtheauntwasnotakindperson.Myfatherdidn’tknowthatbecausehewashardlyeveryaroundbutwhenhedidputinanappearance,theauntbehaveddifferently."

           MissHoneypausedandsippedhertea.