Матильда
The Weekly Test
Wouldyouliketohearthesongabout’difficulty’?"
"Ishouldbefascinated,"theTrunchbullsaidinavoicedrippingwithsarcasm.
"Hereitis,"Nigelsaid.
"MrsD,MrsI,MrsFFI
MrsC,MrsU,MrsLTY.
Thatspellsdifficulty."
"Howperfectlyridiculous!"snortedtheTrunchbull."Whyareallthesewomenmarried?Andanywayyou’renotmeanttoteachpoetrywhenyou’reteachingspelling.Cutitoutinfuture,MissHoney."
"Butitdoesteachthemsomeoftheharderwordswonderfullywell,"MissHoneymurmured.
"Don’targuewithme,MissHoney!"theHeadmistressthundered."Justdoasyou’retold!IshallnowtesttheclassonthemultiplicationtablestoseeifMissHoneyhastaughtyouanythingatallinthatdirection."TheTrunchbullhadreturnedtoherplaceinfrontoftheclass,andherdiabolicalgazewasmovingslowlyalongtherowsoftinypupils."You!"shebarked,pointingatasmallboycalledRupertinthefrontrow."Whatistwosevens?"
"Sixteen,"Rupertansweredwithfoolishabandon.
TheTrunchbullstartedadvancingslowandsoft-footeduponRupertinthemannerofatigressstalkingasmalldeer.Rupertsuddenlybecameawareofthedangersignalsandquicklytriedagain."It’seighteen!"hecried."Twosevensareeighteen,notsixteen!"
"Youignorantlittleslug!"theTrunchbullbellowed."Youwitlessweed!Youempty-headedhamster!Youstupidglobofglue!"ShehadnowstationedherselfdirectlybehindRupert,andsuddenlysheextendedahandthesizeofatennisracquetandgrabbedallthehaironRupert’sheadinherfist.
