Miss Honey

           Matildawasalittlelateinstartingschool.MostchildrenbeginPrimarySchoolatfiveorevenjustbefore,butMatilda’sparents,whoweren’tveryconcernedonewayortheotherabouttheirdaughter’seducation,hadforgottentomaketheproperarrangementsinadvance.Shewasfiveandahalfwhensheenteredschoolforthefirsttime.

           ThevillageschoolforyoungerchildrenwasableakbrickbuildingcalledCrunchemHallPrimarySchool.Ithadabouttwohundredandfiftypupilsagedfromfivetojustundertwelveyearsold.Theheadteacher,theboss,thesupremecommanderofthisestablishmentwasaformidablemiddle-agedladywhosenamewasMissTrunchbull.

           NaturallyMatildawasputinthebottomclass,wheretherewereeighteenothersmallboysandgirlsaboutthesameageasher.TheirteacherwascalledMissHoney,andshecouldnothavebeenmorethantwenty-threeortwenty-four.Shehadalovelypaleovalmadonnafacewithblueeyesandherhairwaslight-brown.Herbodywassoslimandfragileonegotthefeelingthatifshefellovershewouldsmashintoathousandpieces,likeaporcelainfigure.

           MissJenniferHoneywasamildandquietpersonwhoneverraisedhervoiceandwasseldomseentosmile,butthereisnodoubtshepossessedthatraregiftforbeingadoredbyeverysmallchildunderhercare.Sheseemedtounderstandtotallythebewildermentandfearthatsooftenoverwhelmsyoungchildrenwhoforthefirsttimeintheirlivesareherdedintoaclassroomandtoldtoobeyorders.