long flight of stairs. Mr Wonka slid down the banisters.

The three
children did the same. Mrs Salt and Mrs Teavee, the only women
now left in the party, were getting very out of breath. Mrs Salt was a
great fat creature with short legs, and she was blowing like a
rhinoceros. ‘This way!’ cried Mr Wonka, turning left at the bottom
of the stairs.
‘Go slower!’ panted Mrs Salt.
‘Impossible,’ said Mr Wonka. ‘We should never get there in time if
I did.’
‘Get where?’ asked Veruca Salt.
‘Never you mind,’ said Mr Wonka. ‘You just wait and see.’