Матильда

           ButIdon’tsupposethisbunchofmoronswe’vegotherewilleverreaditbecausebythelookofthemtheyarenevergoingtolearntoreadanything!"

           "I’vereadit,"Matildasaidquietly.

           TheTrunchbullflickedherheadroundandlookedcarefullyatthesmallgirlwithdarkhairanddeepbrowneyessittinginthesecondrow."Whatdidyousay?"sheaskedsharply.

           "IsaidI’vereadit,MissTrunchbull."

           "Readwhat?"

           "NicholasNickleby,MissTrunchbull."

           "Youarelyingtome,madam!"theTrunchbullshouted,glaringatMatilda."Idoubtthereisasinglechildintheentireschoolwhohasreadthatbook,andhereyouare,anunhatchedshrimpsittinginthelowestformthereis,tryingtotellmeawhoppinggreatlielikethat!Whydoyoudoit?Youmusttakemeforafool!Doyoutakemeforafool,child?"

           "Well..."Matildasaid,thenshehesitated.Shewouldliketohavesaid,"Yes,Ijollywelldo,"butthatwouldhavebeensuicide."Well..."shesaidagain,stillhesitating,stillrefusingtosay"No".

           TheTrunchbullsensedwhatthechildwasthinkingandshedidn’tlikeit."Standupwhenyouspeaktome!"shesnapped."Whatisyourname?"

           Matildastoodupandsaid,"MynameisMatildaWormwood,MissTrunchbull."

           "Wormwood,isit?"theTrunchbullsaid."InthatcaseyoumustbethedaughterofthatmanwhoownsWormwoodMotors?"

           "Yes,MissTrunchbull."

           "He’sacrook!"theTrunchbullshouted."Aweekagohesoldmeasecond-handcarthathesaidwasalmostnew.Ithoughthewasasplendidfellowthen