Матильда
Miss Honey
"SohaveI,"Lavendersaid.
MissHoneywenttotheblackboardandwrotewithherwhitechalkthesentence,Ihavealreadybeguntolearnhowtoreadlongsentences.Shehadpurposelymadeitdifficultandsheknewthattherewerepreciousfewfive-year-oldsaroundwhowouldbeabletomanageit.
"Canyoutellmewhatthatsays,Nigel?"sheasked.
"That’stoohard,"Nigelsaid.
"Lavender?"
"ThefirstwordisI,"Lavendersaid.
"Cananyofyoureadthewholesentence?"MissHoneyasked,waitingforthe"yes"thatshefeltcertainwasgoingtocomefromMatilda.
"Yes,"Matildasaid.
"Goahead,"MissHoneysaid.
Matildareadthesentencewithoutanyhesitationatall."Thatreallyisverygoodindeed,"MissHoneysaid,makingtheunderstatementofherlife."Howmuchcanyouread,Matilda?"
"IthinkIcanreadmostthings,MissHoney,"Matildasaid,"althoughI’mafraidIcan’talwaysunderstandthemeanings."
MissHoneygottoherfeetandwalkedsmartlyoutoftheroom,butwasbackinthirtysecondscarryingathickbook.SheopeneditatrandomandplaceditonMatilda’sdesk.
"Thisisabookofhumorouspoetry,"shesaid."Seeifyoucanreadthatonealoud."
Smoothly,withoutapauseandatanicespeed,Matildabegantoread:
"AnepicurediningatCrewe
Foundaratherlargemouseinhisstew.
Criedthewaiter,"Don’tshout
Andwaveitabout
Ortherestwillbewantingonetoo."
Severalchildrensawthefunnysideoftherhymeandlaughed.MissHoneysaid,"Doyouknowwhatanepicureis,Matilda?"
"Itissomeonewhoisdaintywithhiseating,"Matildasaid.
