Матильда
Miss Honey
ReluctantlyMatildastoodupandveryslowly,verynervously,sherecitedherlimerick:
"ThethingweallaskaboutJenny
Is,’Surelytherecannotbemany
Younggirlsintheplace
Withsolovelyaface?’
Theanswertothatis,’Notany!’"
ThewholeofMissHoney’spaleandpleasantfaceblushedabrilliantscarlet.Thenonceagainshesmiled.Itwasamuchbroaderonethistime,asmileofpurepleasure.
"Why,thankyou,Matilda,"shesaid,stillsmiling."Althoughitisnottrue,itisreallyaverygoodlimerick.Ohdear,ohdear,Imusttrytorememberthatone."
Fromthethirdrowofdesks,Lavendersaid,"It’sgood.Ilikeit."
"It’strueaswell,"asmallboycalledRupertsaid.
"Ofcourseit’strue,"Nigelsaid.
AlreadythewholeclasshadbeguntowarmtowardsMissHoney,althoughasyetshehadhardlytakenanynoticeofanyofthemexceptMatilda.
"Whotaughtyoutoread,Matilda?"MissHoneyasked.
"Ijustsortoftaughtmyself,MissHoney."
"Andhaveyoureadanybooksallbyyourself,anychildren’sbooks,Imean?"
"I’vereadalltheonesthatareinthepubliclibraryintheHighStreet,MissHoney."
"Anddidyoulikethem?"
"Ilikedsomeofthemverymuchindeed,"Matildasaid,"butIthoughtotherswerefairlydull."
"Tellmeonethatyouliked."
"IlikedTheLion,theWitchandtheWardrobe,"Matildasaid."IthinkMr.C.S.Lewisisaverygoodwriter.Buthehasonefailing.Therearenofunnybitsinhisbooks."
"Youarerightthere,"MissHoneysaid.
"Therearen’tmanyfunnybitsinMr.Tolkieneither,"
Matildasaid
