Four years and three months, answered Matilda. Mrs Phelps even more surprised, but she was too sensible to show it. What sort of book would you like to read next? she asked. A really good one, said Matilda. A famous one. So Mrs Phelps gave her Great Ezxpectations by Charles Dickens, a very famous English writer. For the next few afternoons she watched Matilda in the conner with the book on her knees.