Матильда

           "Trytoremembereverythingyouhavelearnedtheselastfewdays.Andonemorething.AjugofwaterandaglassmustalwaysbeonthetableherewhentheHeadmistresscomesin.Shenevertakesalessonwithoutthat.Nowwhowillberesponsibleforseeingthatit’sthere?"

           "Iwill,"Lavendersaidatonce.

           "Verywell,Lavender,"MissHoneysaid."Itwillbeyourjobtogotothekitchenandgetthejugandfillitwithwaterandputitonthetableherewithacleanemptyglassjustbeforethelessonstarts."

           "Whatifthejug’snotinthekitchen?"Lavenderasked.

           "ThereareadozenHeadmistress’sjugsandglassesinthekitchen,"MissHoneysaid."Theyareusedallovertheschool."

           "Iwon’tforget,"Lavendersaid."IpromiseIwon’t."AlreadyLavender’sschemingmindwasgoingoverthepossibilitiesthatthiswater-jugjobhadopenedupforher.Shelongedtodosomethingtrulyheroic.SheadmiredtheoldergirlHortensiatodistractionforthedaringdeedsshehadperformedintheschool.ShealsoadmiredMatildawhohadswornhertosecrecyabouttheparrotjobshehadbroughtoffathome,andalsothegreathair-oilswitchwhichhadbleachedherfather’shair.Itwasherturnnowtobecomeaheroineifonlyshecouldcomeupwithabrilliantplot.

           Onthewayhomefromschoolthatafternoonshebegantomulloverthevariouspossibilities,andwhenatlastthegermofabrilliantideahither,shebegantoexpandonitandlayherplanswiththesamekindofcaretheDukeofWellingtonhaddonebeforetheBattleofWaterloo.