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134 PINOCCHIO
. . . . Where is my poor papa at this moment? ”
“TI do not know.”
- Shall I ever have the happiness of seeing
him again and kissing him? "
“I think so; mdeed I am sure of it.”
At this answer Pinocchio was so delighted
that he took the Fairy’s hands and began to
kiss them with such fervour that he seemed
beside himself. Then raising his face and look¬
ing at her lovingly, he asked:
"Tell me, little mamma: then it was not
true that you were dead? ”
‘It seems not,” said the Fairy, smiling.
" If you ony knew the sorrow I felt and
the tightening of my throat when I read, ‘ here
MESZ e A
“TIT know it, and it is on that account that
I have forgiven you. I saw from the sincerity
of your grief that you had a good heart; and
when boys have good hearts, even if they are
scamps and have got bad habits, there is always
something to hope for: that is, there is always
hope that they will turn to better ways. That
is why I came to look for you here. I will be
29
your mamma. . . .
“Oh, how delightful!” shouted Pinocchio,
jumping for joy.
" You must obey me and do everything
that I bid you.”