The Practice

           Matildafoundthehouseemptyasusual.Herfatherwasnotyetbackfromwork,hermotherwasnotyetbackfrombingoandherbrothermightbeanywhere.Shewentstraightintotheliving-roomandopenedthedrawerofthesideboardwheresheknewherfatherkeptaboxofcigars.Shetookoneoutandcarriedituptoherbedroomandshutherselfin.

           Nowforthepractice,shetoldherself.It’sgoingtobetoughbutI’mdeterminedtodoit.

           HerplanforhelpingMissHoneywasbeginningtoformbeautifullyinhermind.Shehaditnowinalmosteverydetail,butintheenditalldependeduponherbeingabletodooneveryspecialthingwithhereye-power.Sheknewshewouldn’tmanageitrightaway,butshefeltfairlyconfidentthatwithagreatdealofpracticeandeffort,shewouldsucceedintheend.Thecigarwasessential.Itwasperhapsabitthickerthanshewouldhaveliked,buttheweightwasaboutright.Itwouldbefineforpractisingwith.

           Therewasasmalldressing-tableinMatilda’sbedroomwithherhairbrushandcombonitandtwolibrarybooks.Sheclearedthesethingstoonesideandlaidthecigardowninthemiddleofthedressing-table.Thenshewalkedawayandsatontheendofherbed.Shewasnowabouttenfeetfromthecigar.

           Shesettledherselfandbegantoconcentrate,andveryquicklythistimeshefelttheelectricitybeginningtoflowinsideherhead,gatheringitselfbehindtheeyes,andtheeyesbecamehotandmillionsoftinyinvisiblehandsbeganpushingoutlikesparkstowardsthecigar.