Матильда

           MissHoneyhadheardthesoundofMatilda’sfeetracingoverthegravelandnowshestraightenedupandturnedandsteppedoutoftherose-bedasthechildcamerunningup.

           "My,my!"shesaid."Whatintheworldisthematter?"Matildastoodbeforeher,panting,outofbreath,hersmallfaceflushedcrimsonallover.

           "They’releaving!"shecried."They’veallgonemadandthey’refillingtheirsuitcasesandthey’releavingforSpaininaboutthirtyminutes!"

           "Whois?"MissHoneyaskedquietly.

           "MummyanddaddyandmybrotherMikeandtheysayI’vegottogowiththem!"

           "Youmeanforaholiday?"MissHoneyasked.

           "Forever!"Matildacried."Daddysaidwewerenevercomingback!"

           Therewasabriefsilence,thenMissHoneysaid,"ActuallyI’mnotverysurprised."

           "Youmeanyouknewtheyweregoing?"Matildacried.

           "Whydidn’tyoutellme?"

           "No,darling,"MissHoneysaid."Ididnotknowtheyweregoing.Butthenewsstilldoesn’tsurpriseme."

           "Why?"Matildacried."Pleasetellmewhy."Shewasstilloutofbreathfromtherunningandfromtheshockofitall.

           "Becauseyourfather",MissHoneysaid,"isinwithabunchofcrooks.Everyoneinthevillageknowsthat.Myguessisthatheisareceiverofstolencarsfromalloverthecountry.He’sinitdeep."

           Matildastaredatheropen-mouthed.

           MissHoneywenton,"Peoplebroughtstolencarstoyourfather’sworkshopwherehechangedthenumber-platesandresprayedthebodiesadifferentcolourandalltherestofit.