both mother and father were quite to their daughter for a bout a week Then one evening Mr Wormwood came home and said to his son Well my boy I sold five cars today Sawdust in the gearboxes the electric drill on the old clock a bit of paint here and there and the stupid people couldn't wait to buy He took a piece of paper from his pocket Get some paper and a pencil boy I want to see if you're clever The boy got some paper and apencil and returned Write this down said Mr Wormwood I bought car number one for two hundred and seventy- eight pounds and sold it for one thousand four hundred and twenty-five Car number two cost me one hundred and eighteen pounds and sold for seven hundred and sixty Car number three cost one hundred and eleven pounds and sold for nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds fifty pence Never say one thousand pounds son Always ask for nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds fifty It seems much smaller than a thousand but it isn't Very clever dad said the boy Car number four cost eighty- six pounds and sold for six hundred and ninety-nine pounds fifty Car number five cost six hundred and thirty-seven pounds and sold for sixteen hundred and forty-nine pounds and fifty pence Did you write all that down? Yes daddy said the ten-year-old boy Right now tell me this said Mr Wormwood How much money did I make on each on each of the five cars and how much money did your clever father make today That's difficult said the boy I had an answer in ten minutes said his father You mean you got an answer without writing anything down said the boy his eyes wide without writing anything down said the boy his eyes wide open with surprise Well no said his father Nobody could do that Matilda said quietly Four thousand three hundred and three pounds and fifty pence Her father looked at her Be quiet we're wh-what did you say? Four thousand three hundred and three pounds and fifty pence said Matilda. Her father was silent and his face began to go red And of course, it was