I'm sure I don't remember giving my mother any particular trouble when I was Matilda's age, but the stories I've heard to-day are enough to make one's hair stand on end.

Mrs.Minchin knew another girl, who lost all her appetite just like Matilda, and she had a very sulky temper too, and at last they found out she used to eat black-beetles.

She was a Creole, or something of that sort, I believe, but they couldn't stop her.

The Minchins knew her when they were in the West Indies, when he was in the 209th; or, at least, it was there they heard about her.

The houses swarmed with black-beetles." "A most useful young lady," said Uncle Buller.