Matilda

'It is someone who is dainty with his eating,' Matilda said.

'That is correct,' Miss Honey said. 'And do you happen to know what that particular type of poetry is called?'

'It's called a limerick,' Matilda said. 'That's a lovely one. It's so funny.'

'It's a famous one,' Miss Honey said, picking up the book and returning to her table in front of the class. 'A witty limerick is very hard to write,' she added. 'They look easy but they most certainly are not.'

'I know,' Matilda said. 'I've tried quite a few times but mine are never any good.'

'You have, have you?' Miss Honey said, more startled than ever. 'Well, Matilda, I would very much like to hear one of these limericks you say you have written. Could you try to remember one for us?'

'Well,' Matilda said, hesitat

ing, 'I've actually been trying to make up one about you, Miss Honey, while we've been sitting here.'

'About me!' Miss Honey cried. 'Well, we've certainly got to hear that one, haven't we?'

'I don't think I want to say it, Miss Honey.'

'Please tell it,' Miss Honey said. 'I promise I won't mind.'

'I think you will, Miss Honey, because I have to use your first name to make things rhyme and that's why I don't want to say it.'

'How do you know my first name?' Miss Honey asked.

'I heard another teacher calling you by it just before we came in,' Matilda said. 'She called you Jenny.'

'I insist upon hearing this limerick,' Miss Honey said, smiling one of her rare smiles. 'Stand up and recite it.'

Reluctantly Matilda stood up and very slowly, very nervously, she recited her limerick: 'The thing we all ask about Jenny

Is, "Surely there cannot be many

Young girls in the place

With so lovely a face?"

The answer to that is, "Not any!" '

The whole of Miss Honey's pale and pleasant face blushed a brilliant scarlet. Then once again she smiled. It was a much broader one this time, a smile of pure pleasure.

'Why, thank you, Matilda,' she said, still smiling. 'Although it is not true, it is really a very good limerick. Oh dear, oh dear, I must try to remember that one.'

From the third row of desks, Lavender said, 'It's good. I like it.'

'It's true as well,' a small boy called Rupert said.

'Of course it's true,' Nigel said.

Already the whole class had begun to warm towards Miss Honey, although as yet she had hardly taken any notice of any of them except Matilda.

'Who taught you to read, Matilda?' Miss Honey asked.

'I just sort of taught myself, Miss Honey.'

'And have you read any books all by yourself, any children's books, I mean?'

'I've read all the ones that are in the public library in the High Street, Miss Honey.'