The Ghost

           TherewascomparativecalmintheWormwoodhouseholdforaboutaweekaftertheSuperglueepisode.TheexperiencehadclearlychastenedMr.Wormwoodandheseemedtemporarilytohavelosthistasteforboastingandbullying.

           Thensuddenlyhestruckagain.Perhapshehadhadabaddayatthegarageandhadnotsoldenoughcrummysecond-handcars.Therearemanythingsthatmakeamanirritablewhenhearriveshomefromworkintheeveningandasensiblewifewillusuallynoticethestorm-signalsandwillleavehimaloneuntilhesimmersdown.

           WhenMr.Wormwoodarrivedbackfromthegaragethateveninghisfacewasasdarkasathundercloudandsomebodywasclearlyforthehigh-jumpprettysoon.Hiswiferecognisedthesignsimmediatelyandmadeherselfscarce.Hethenstrodeintotheliving-room.Matildahappenedtobecurledupinanarm-chairinthecorner,totallyabsorbedinabook.Mr.Wormwoodswitchedonthetelevision.Thescreenlitup.Theprogrammeblared.Mr.WormwoodglaredatMatilda.Shehadn’tmoved.Shehadsomehowtrainedherselfbynowtoblockherearstotheghastlysoundofthedreadedbox.Shekeptrightonreading,andforsomereasonthisinfuriatedthefather.Perhapshisangerwasintensifiedbecausehesawhergettingpleasurefromsomethingthatwasbeyondhisreach.

           "Don’tyoueverstopreading?"hesnappedather."Oh,hellodaddy,"shesaidpleasantly."Didyouhaveagoodday?"

           "Whatisthistrash?"hesaid,snatchingthebookfromherhands.

           "Itisn’ttrash,daddy,it’slovely.It’scalledTheRedPony.