Матильда

           "I’llgiveyouallmynextweek’spocket-money,"Matildasaid.

           Thatwasdifferent.Fredthoughtaboutitforafewseconds."Allright,then,"hesaid,"Ifyoupromisetoreturnhimtomorrow."

           Matildastaggeredbacktoherownemptyhousecarryingthetallcageinbothhands.Therewasalargefireplaceinthedining-roomandshenowsetaboutwedgingthecageupthechimneyandoutofsight.Thiswasn’tsoeasy,butshemanageditintheend.

           "Hullo,hullo,hullo!"thebirdcalleddowntoher."Hullo,hullo!"

           "Shutup,younut!"Matildasaid,andshewentouttowashthesootoffherhands.

           Thateveningwhilethemother,thefather,thebrotherandMatildawerehavingsupperasusualintheliving-roominfrontofthetelevision,avoicecameloudandclearfromthedining-roomacrossthehall."Hullo,hullo,hullo,"itsaid.

           "Harry!"criedthemother,turningwhite."There’ssomeoneinthehouse!Iheardavoice!"

           "SodidI!"thebrothersaid.Matildajumpedupandswitchedoffthetelly."Ssshh!"shesaid."Listen!"

           Theyallstoppedeatingandsatthereverytense,listening.

           "Hullo,hullo,hullo!"camethevoiceagain.

           "Thereitis!"criedthebrother.

           "It’sburglars!"hissedthemother."They’reinthedining-room!"

           "Ithinktheyare,"thefathersaid,sittingtight.

           "Thengoandcatchthem,Harry!"hissedthemother."Gooutandcollarthemred-handed!"

           Thefatherdidn’tmove.Heseemedinnohurrytodashoffandbeahero.Hisfacehadturnedgrey.

           "Getonwithit!"hissedthemother.