Matilda

After the other children leave class for the playground, Matilda sits in her seat, wondering about her new power and wanting someone to talk to about it. She decides to confide in Miss Honey.

She tells her teacher she didn’t put the newt in the glass. Miss Honey believes her. She then confesses that she was so angry at Trunchbull that she made the glass tip over with her eyes. Miss Honey thinks she’s being overly imaginative, but she asks if Matilda can do it again. Matilda concentrates as hard as she can and senses power streaming from her eyes, like “millions of tiny invisible arms with hands on them” (174), toward the glass. It tilts, then topples over.

Miss Honey’s jaw drops and her eyes go wide. She looks at Matilda, who’s white-faced and trembling, her eyes glazed. Matilda recovers and assures her teacher that she’s all right. Miss Honey remarks that Matilda seemed far away; the girl replies, “I was flying past the stars on silver wings […] It was wonderful” (176).

Miss Honey collects her thoughts, then invites Matilda to her cottage for tea. Matilda accepts happily, but she asks the teacher not to tell anyone about her new power.