Lavender

           InthemiddleofthefirstweekofMatilda’sfirstterm,MissHoneysaidtotheclass,"Ihavesomeimportantnewsforyou,solistencarefully.Youtoo,Matilda.Putthatbookdownforamomentandpayattention."

           Smalleagerfaceslookedupandlistened.

           "ItistheHeadmistress’scustom",MissHoneywenton,"totakeovertheclassforoneperiodeachweek.Shedoesthiswitheveryclassintheschoolandeachclasshasafixeddayandafixedtime.Oursisalwaystwoo’clockonThursdayafternoons,immediatelyafterlunch.Sotomorrowattwoo’clockMissTrunchbullwillbetakingoverfrommeforonelesson.Ishallbehereaswell,ofcourse,butonlyasasilentwitness.Isthatunderstood?"

           "Yes,MissHoney,"theychirruped.

           "Awordofwarningtoyouall,"MissHoneysaid."TheHeadmistressisverystrictabouteverything.Makesureyourclothesareclean,yourfacesarecleanandyourhandsareclean.Speakonlywhenspokento.Whensheasksyouaquestion,standupatoncebeforeyouanswerit.Neverarguewithher.Neveranswerback.Nevertrytobefunny.Ifyoudo,youwillmakeherangry,andwhentheHeadmistressgetsangryyouhadbetterwatchout."

           "Youcansaythatagain,"Lavendermurmured.

           "Iamquitesure",MissHoneysaid,"thatshewillbetestingyouonwhatyouaremeanttohavelearntthisweek,whichisyourtwo-timestable.SoIstronglyadviseyoutoswotitupwhenyougethometonight.Getyourmotherorfathertohearyouonit."

           "Whatelsewillshetestuson?"someoneasked."Spelling,"MissHoneysaid.