Матильда
The Third Miracle
"Theyhavealllearnttheirthree-timestable.ButIseenopointinteachingittothembackwards.Thereislittlepointinteachinganythingbackwards.Thewholeobjectoflife,Headmistress,istogoforwards.Iventuretoaskwhetherevenyou,forexample,canspellasimplewordlikewrongbackwardsstraightaway.Iverymuchdoubtit."
"Don’tyougetimpertinentwithme,MissHoney!"theTrunchbullsnapped,thensheturnedbacktotheunfortunateWilfred."Verywell,boy,"shesaid."Answermethis.Ihavesevenapples,sevenorangesandsevenbananas.HowmanypiecesoffruitdoIhavealtogether?Hurryup!Getonwithit!Givemetheanswer!"
"That’saddingup!"Wilfredcried."Thatisn’tthethree-timestable!"
"Youblitheringidiot!"shoutedtheTrunchbull.Youfesteringgumboil!Youfleabittenfungus!Thatisthethree-timestable!Youhavethreeseparatelotsoffruitandeachlothassevenpieces.Threesevensaretwenty-one.Can’tyouseethat,youstagnantcesspool!I’llgiveyouonemorechance.Ihaveeightcoconuts,eightmonkey-nutsandeightnuttylittleidiotslikeyou.HowmanynutsdoIhavealtogether?Answermequickly."
PoorWilfredwasproperlyflustered."Wait!"hecried."Pleasewait!I’vegottoaddupeightcoconutsandeightmonkey-nuts..."Hestartedcountingonhisfingers.
"Youburstingblister!"yelledtheTrunchbull.
