Матильда
Miss Honey’s Story
Howdidyoumanagetogetawayfromherintheendandcomeandliveinthisfunnylittlehouse?"
"Ah,thatwassomething,"MissHoneysaid."Iwasproudofthat."
"Tellme,"Matildasaid.
"Well,"MissHoneysaid,"whenIgotmyteacher’sjob,theaunttoldmeIowedheralotofmoney.Iaskedherwhy.Shesaid,’BecauseI’vebeenfeedingyouforalltheseyearsandbuyingyourshoesandyourclothes!’ShetoldmeitaddeduptothousandsandIhadtopayherbackbygivinghermysalaryforthenexttenyears.I’llgiveyouonepoundaweekpocket-money,’shesaid.’Butthat’sallyou’regoingtoget.’Sheevenarrangedwiththeschoolauthoritiestohavemysalarypaiddirectlyintoherownbank.Shemademesignthepaper."
"Youshouldn’thavedonethat,"Matildasaid."Yoursalarywasyourchanceoffreedom."
"Iknow,Iknow,"MissHoneysaid."ButbythenIhadbeenherslavenearlyallmylifeandIhadn’tthecourageorthegutstosayno.Iwasstillpetrifiedofher.Shecouldstillhurtmebadly."
"Sohowdidyoumanagetoescape?"Matildaasked.
"Ah,"MissHoneysaid,smilingforthefirsttime,"thatwastwoyearsago.Itwasmygreatesttriumph."
"Pleasetellme,"Matildasaid.
"Iusedtogetupveryearlyandgoforwalkswhilemyauntwasstillasleep,"MissHoneysaid."AndonedayIcameacrossthistinycottage.Itwasempty.Ifoundoutwhoownedit.Itwasafarmer.Iwenttoseehim.Farmersalsogetupveryearly.Hewasmilkinghiscows.IaskedhimifIcouldrenthiscottage.’Youcan’tlivethere!’hecried.
