Матильда

           "Thisclot,"boomedtheHeadmistress,pointingtheriding-cropathimlikearapier,"thisblackhead,thisfoulcarbuncle,thispoisonouspustulethatyouseebeforeyouisnoneotherthanadisgustingcriminal,adenizenoftheunderworld,amemberoftheMafia!"

           "Who,me?"BruceBogtrottersaid,lookinggenuinelypuzzled.

           "Athief!"theTrunchbullscreamed."Acrook!Apirate!Abrigand!Arustler!"

           "Steadyon,"theboysaid."Imean,dashitall,Headmistress."

           "Doyoudenyit,youmiserablelittlegumboil?Doyoupleadnotguilty?"

           "Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout,"theboysaid,morepuzzledthanever.

           "I’lltellyouwhatI’mtalkingabout,yousuppuratinglittleblister!"theTrunchbullshouted."Yesterdaymorning,duringbreak,yousneakedlikeaserpentintothekitchenandstoleasliceofmyprivatechocolatecakefrommytea-tray!Thattrayhadjustbeenpreparedformepersonallybythecook!Itwasmymorningsnack!Andasforthecake,itwasmyownprivatestock!Thatwasnotboy’scake!Youdon’tthinkforoneminuteI’mgoingtoeatthefilthIgivetoyou?Thatcakewasmadefromrealbutterandrealcream!Andhe,thatrobber-bandit,thatsafe-cracker,thathighwaymanstandingovertherewithhissocksaroundhisanklesstoleitandateit!"

           "Ineverdid,"theboyexclaimed,turningfromgreytowhite.

           "Don’tlietome,Bogtrotter!"barkedtheTrunchbull."Thecooksawyou!What’smore,shesawyoueatingit!"

           TheTrunchbullpausedtowipeafleckoffrothfromherlips.