The Third Miracle

           ThenextdaywasThursday,andthat,asthewholeofMissHoney’sclassknew,wasthedayonwhichtheHeadmistresswouldtakechargeofthefirstlessonafterlunch.

           InthemorningMissHoneysaidtothem,"OneortwoofyoudidnotparticularlyenjoythelastoccasionwhentheHeadmistresstooktheclass,soletusalltrytobeespeciallycarefulandclevertoday.Howareyourears,Eric,afteryourlastencounterwithMissTrunchbull?"

           "Shestretchedthem,"Ericsaid."Mymothersaidshe’spositivetheyarebiggerthantheywere."

           "AndRupert,"MissHoneysaid,"Iamgladtoseeyoudidn’tloseanyofyourhairafterlastThursday."

           "Myheadwasjollysoreafterwards,"Rupertsaid.

           "Andyou,Nigel,"MissHoneysaid,"dopleasetrynottobesmart-aleckwiththeHeadmistresstoday.Youwerereallyquitecheekytoherlastweek."

           "Ihateher,"Nigelsaid.

           "Trynottomakeitsoobvious,"MissHoneysaid."Itdoesn’tpay.She’saverystrongwoman.Shehasmuscleslikesteelropes."

           "IwishIwasgrownup,"Nigelsaid."I’dknockherflat."

           "Idoubtyouwould,"MissHoneysaid.’’Noonehasevergotthebetterofheryet."

           "Whatwillshebetestingusonthisafternoon?"asmallgirlasked.

           "Almostcertainlythethree-timestable,"MissHoneysaid.

           "That’swhatyouareallmeanttohavelearntthispastweek.

           Makesureyouknowit."

           Lunchcameandwent.

           Afterlunch,theclassreassembled.MissHoneystoodatonesideoftheroom.Theyallsatsilent,apprehensive,waiting.