Then my mother died when I was two and my aunt came to live with us. My father was a busy doctor and he needed somebody to look after me. But my aunt was not a kind person. Then, when I was five, my father died suddenly "How did he die?" asked Matilda. "That's an interesting question. said Miss Honey, "I was too young to ask questions at the time, but later I learned that there was a lot of mystery about his death. He was a very calm and sensible man, and nobody really believed that he did it 'What did he do?" asked Matilda "Killed himself, said Miss Honey Or it looked like that. So I had to live with my aunt. And my father's house was suddenly hers! How? I don't really know. What happened then?" asked Matilda "Was your aunt nicer to you?' "She was worse than before! said Miss Honey. It was terrible. I was very frightened of her. "Did you go to school?" asked Matilda. "Yes, said Miss Honey, I went to the same school that you're going to now.
But I lived at home, and I had to clean the house and do all the cooking. Then, when I grew up, I got a job as a teacher. But my aunt said, "Since you were a small child I've bought your food and clothes, and now you must pay me for them. For the next ten years you must give me all the money you get from your teaching, and I'll give you back one pound every week. "That was wrong, said Matilda "I know, but I was afraid, said Miss Honey "She could still hurt me badly "When did you escape from her?" asked Matilda. "Two years ago, said Miss Honey "One day I saw this little house. It was empty, but it belonged to a farmer and I asked him about it. "It's very uncomfortable and cold there," h said, "but if you really want to live in it you can pay me ten pence a week." So I do, and I use the other ninety pence a week to buy milk and bread and tea. 1 have my lunches at school because I don't have to pay for them. "Does your aunt still live in your old house? asked Matilda. "Yes, said Miss Honey. I think my father wanted me to have it after he died, but nobody can find his will. My aunt has a letter saying that he gave the house to her. It looks like my father's writing, but I don't think it is. But who will believe me? My aunt is a very important person in the village. "Who is she?" asked Matilda. "Miss Trunchbull, said Miss Honey Miss Trunchbull!" cried Matilda She's your aunt?' 'Yes, but that's enough about me, said Miss Honey "We came here to talk about you. I'm interested in those wonderful eyes of yours. How much can you move and push with them? We must know more about it all "Not today, Miss Honey, said Matilda "I want to go home and think about all this. I've got a bit of an idea, and She stopped then said "What did your aunt call your father?"
"She called him Magnus, said Miss Honey. And what did your father call her?" asked Matilda. "He called her Agatha, said Miss Honey. And what did they call you?" asked Matilda. They called me Jenny, said Miss Honey. "Thank you. said Matilda. Goodbye, Miss Honey. And thank you for the tea. And she ran out of the little house smiling.