Матильда
The Parents
MissHoney,meanwhile,wasmakinganotherdecision.ShewasdecidingthatshewouldgoherselfandhaveasecrettalkwithMatilda’smotherandfatherassoonaspossible.Shesimplyrefusedtoletthematterrestwhereitwas.Thewholethingwasridiculous.Shecouldn’tbelievethattheparentsweretotallyunawareoftheirdaughter’sremarkabletalents.Afterall,Mr.Wormwoodwasasuccessfulmotor-cardealersoshepresumedthathewasafairlyintelligentmanhimself.Inanyevent,parentsneverunderestimatedtheabilitiesoftheirownchildren.Quitethereverse.Sometimesitwaswellnighimpossibleforateachertoconvincetheproudfatherormotherthattheirbelovedoffspringwasacompletenitwit.MissHoneyfeltconfidentthatshewouldhavenodifficultyinconvincingMr.andMrs.WormwoodthatMatildawassomethingveryspecialindeed.Thetroublewasgoingtobetostopthemfromgettingover-enthusiastic.
AndnowMissHoney’shopesbegantoexpandevenfurther.ShestartedwonderingwhetherpermissionmightnotbesoughtfromtheparentsforhertogiveprivatetuitiontoMatildaafterschool.Theprospectofcoachingachildasbrightasthisappealedenormouslytoherprofessionalinstinctasateacher.AndsuddenlyshedecidedthatshewouldgoandcallonMr.andMrs.Wormwoodthatveryevening.Shewouldgofairlylate,betweennineandteno’clock,whenMatildawassuretobeinbed.
Andthatispreciselywhatshedid.
