Матильда
Miss Honey
SomecuriouswarmththatwasalmosttangibleshoneoutofMissHoney’sfacewhenshespoketoaconfusedandhomesicknewcomertotheclass.
MissTrunchbull,theHeadmistress,wassomethingelsealtogether.Shewasagiganticholyterror,afiercetyrannicalmonsterwhofrightenedthelifeoutofthepupilsandteachersalike.Therewasanauraofmenaceaboutherevenatadistance,andwhenshecameupcloseyoucouldalmostfeelthedangerousheatradiatingfromherasfromared-hotrodofmetal.Whenshemarched—MissTrunchbullneverwalked,shealwaysmarchedlikeastorm-trooperwithlongstridesandarmsaswinging—whenshemarchedalongacorridoryoucouldactuallyhearhersnortingasshewent,andifagroupofchildrenhappenedtobeinherpath,sheploughedrightonthroughthemlikeatank,withsmallpeoplebouncingoffhertoleftandright.Thankgoodnesswedon’tmeetmanypeoplelikeherinthisworld,althoughtheydoexistandallofusarelikelytocomeacrossatleastoneoftheminalifetime.Ifyoueverdo,youshouldbehaveasyouwouldifyoumetanenragedrhinocerosoutinthebush—climbupthenearesttreeandstaythereuntilithasgoneaway.Thiswoman,inallhereccentricitiesandinherappearance,isalmostim-possibletodescribe,butIshallmakesomeattempttodosoalittlelateron.LetusleaveherforthemomentandgobacktoMatildaandherfirstdayinMissHoney’sclass.
Aftertheusualbusinessofgoingthroughallthenamesofthechildren,MissHoneyhandedoutabrand-newexercise-booktoeachpupil.
