It's a strange thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their child is the dirtiest little animal you have ever seen, they still think that he or she is wonderful. But there are parents who are not interested in their children in any way, and these of course are much worse. Mr and Mrs Wormwood had an ordinary little boy, Michael, and a daughter, Matilda. But they were so busy with their unimportant business that they did not realize Matilda was clever very clever.