Matilda Bone
“"Eel," said Matilda, flopping it onto the table.
"And what else? Cabbage? Onions? Parsley? Bread?" "Just eel, Mistress Peg. It took all the pennies, but I made a good bargain." She unwrapped the fish.
The door opened and closed. "What is that loathsome smell?" asked a voice Matilda had heard before. It was the goose girl from the street.
"Dinner, dear Margery," said Peg, "purchased by my new and useless helper, who hasn't the wit to know rotten fish." Peg shoved Matilda forward.
Matilda's face ...burned. She longed to hide, be gone, vanish altogether.
"Were you not put off by the reek?" Peg asked her. "Strong smell means fresh fish, he said," Matilda told Peg.
"He said this was fresh?" "Yes, Mistress Peg." "A fresh eel has a white belly, a small head, glistening skin, and a mild salty smell. This eel was neither sound when alive nor edible now." She shook her head. "How much did he ask for it?" "Three pennies." "And how much did you pay?" "Three pennies!" "For that reeking eel?MoreLess
"And what else? Cabbage? Onions? Parsley? Bread?" "Just eel, Mistress Peg. It took all the pennies, but I made a good bargain." She unwrapped the fish.
The door opened and closed. "What is that loathsome smell?" asked a voice Matilda had heard before. It was the goose girl from the street.
"Dinner, dear Margery," said Peg, "purchased by my new and useless helper, who hasn't the wit to know rotten fish." Peg shoved Matilda forward.
Matilda's face ...burned. She longed to hide, be gone, vanish altogether.
"Were you not put off by the reek?" Peg asked her. "Strong smell means fresh fish, he said," Matilda told Peg.
"He said this was fresh?" "Yes, Mistress Peg." "A fresh eel has a white belly, a small head, glistening skin, and a mild salty smell. This eel was neither sound when alive nor edible now." She shook her head. "How much did he ask for it?" "Three pennies." "And how much did you pay?" "Three pennies!" "For that reeking eel?MoreLess
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