Матильда

           "They’reprobablyafterthesilver!"

           Thehusbandwipedhislipsnervouslywithhisnapkin.

           "Whydon’tweallgoandlooktogether?"hesaid.

           "Comeon,then,"thebrothersaid."Comeon,mum.""They’redefinitelyinthedining-room,"Matildawhispered.

           "I’msuretheyare."

           Themothergrabbedapokerfromthefireplace.Thefathertookagolf-clubthatwasstandinginthecorner.Thebrotherseizedatable-lamp,rippingtheplugoutofitssocket.Matildatooktheknifeshehadbeeneatingwith,andallfourofthemcrepttowardsthedining-roomdoor,thefatherkeepingwellbehindtheothers.

           "Hullo,hullo,hullo,"camethevoiceagain.

           "Comeon!"Matildacriedandsheburstintotheroom,brandishingherknife."Stick’emup!"sheyelled."We’vecaughtyou!"Theothersfollowedher,wavingtheirweapons.Thentheystopped.Theystaredaroundtheroom.Therewasnoonethere.

           "There’snoonehere,"thefathersaid,greatlyrelieved.

           "Iheardhim,Harry!"themothershrieked,stillquaking."Idistinctlyheardhisvoice!Sodidyou!"

           "I’mcertainIheardhim!"Matildacried."He’sinheresomewhere!"Shebegansearchingbehindthesofaandbehindthecurtains.

           Thencamethevoiceonceagain,softandspookythistime,"Rattlemybones,"itsaid."Rattlemybones."

           Theyalljumped,includingMatildawhowasaprettygoodactress.Theystaredroundtheroom.Therewasstillnoonethere.

           "It’saghost,"Matildasaid.

           "Heavenhelpus!"criedthemother,clutchingherhusbandroundtheneck.

           "Iknowit’saghost!"Matildasaid