CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“So?” said Matilda, who I had not heard walk up to me. “What does it say?”
I started when Matilda spoke, but did not drop the letter. I reread the line in my head and hesitated to speak it aloud, because I didn’t want to worry Matilda more than she was. “Oh, um, it’s nothing impor—”
Matilda took the note from my hands without asking and began reading it herself. I was surprised by how fast she moved for being such an old lady. I watched as her old eyes scanned the note, her lips moving noiselessly as she read the note.
Finally, Matilda dropped the note, which I caught before it hit the floor. At the same time, Matilda stepped back and put a hand on her forehead, a worried expression crossing her old features.
“Matilda?” I said, taking a step closer to her. “Are you all
