The newt was still squirming in the tall glass of water and I glared at the trunchbull who was sitting behind the teacher's desk, her eyes fixed on the glass.
Suddenly, quite slowly, the most extraordinary feeling started to creep over me.
The feeling was mostly in my eyes, which were now riveted on the newt in the glass.
A kind of electricity seemed to be gathering inside them, a feeling of great strength.
My eyeballs were beginning to get hot as though vast energy was building up.
I kept my eyes steadily on the glass and it was as if millions of tiny little invisible arms with hands on them were shooting out of my eyes towards the glass I was staring at.
Tip it, tip it over, I whispered.
I saw the glass wobble.
Tip it, tip it over.
I pushed harder still, willing my eyes to shoot out more power.
Then I saw the glass begin to lean backwards further and further, until it was balancing on just one edge of its base.
It teetered for a few seconds before finally toppling over and falling with a sharp tinkle on the desk.
The Trunchbull with a roar swiped it and sent it flying across the classroom.
Who did it?
Come on, own up.
Step forward, you won't escape this time.
Who is responsible for this filthy job?
Who pushed over this glass?
Matilda!
It was you!
I know it was you!
Speak up, you clotted cobbunkle!
Admit that you did it!
I haven't moved away from my desk since the lesson began, Miss Trunchbull.
She didn't move.
Matilda didn't move.
Nobody moved.
It's been her all time.
You must have knocked it over yourself.
I most certainly did not knock it over myself.
How dare you suggest a thing like that!
Speak up, Miss Honey!
You must have seen everything.
Who knocked over my glass?
None of the children did, Miss Trunchbull.
I can vouch for it.
Nobody has moved from his or her desk all the time you've been here, except for Nigel, and he hasn't moved from his corner.
Ha!
I am fed up with you, you useless bunch of midgets!
I refuse to waste any more of my precious time in here!
Well, I think we've had enough school for one day, don't you?
Oh, yes.
The class is dismissed.
You may all go out into the playground and wait for your parents to come and take you home.
Yes, Miss Honey.
See you tomorrow, Miss Honey.
Goodbye, Miss Honey.
Goodbye, Lavender.
Well, Matilda, aren't you going outside with the others?
Please may I talk to you for a moment?
Of course.
What is it?
Miss Trunchbull isn't going to expel me, is she?
Oh, no.
Because it wasn't me who put that creature in her jug of water.
I promise it wasn't.
I know it wasn't.
The headmistress just got a little overexcited, that's all.
I know.
Miss Honey?
Yes?
Something very peculiar has happened to me, Miss Honey.
I'm listening.
You saw the glass of water spilling all over Miss Trunchbull, didn't you?
I did indeed.
Well, it was me, Miss Honey.
But, Matilda, you never touched it.
You never went near it.
I don't quite follow you.
I got so angry at being accused of something I hadn't done that I made it happen.
You made what happen?
I made the glass tip over.
I did it with my eyes.
I was staring at it and wishing it to tip over, and then my eyes went all hot and funny and some sort of power came out of them and the glass just toppled over.
You mean you were sitting where you are now and you told the glass to topple over and it did?
Something like that, yes.
If you did that, then it is just about the greatest miracle a person has ever performed since the time of Jesus.
I did it, Miss Honey.
Could you do it again?
I don't know.
I might be able to.
Here we are.
Here's the glass.
Should I put water in it?
I don't think it matters.
Very well then.
Go ahead and tip it over.
It may take some time.
Take all the time you want.
I'm in no hurry.
Gracious me, Matilda.
Are you all right?
You've gone completely white, dear.
Your eyes, they're blazing.
Oh, my.
Do be careful.
Matilda.
Matilda!
Are you... Are you all right, dear?
