Stranica 186 [186]
166 PINOCCHIO
." I will pardon you once more,” the Fairy
said, " but woe to you if you behave badly a
imird tame! ... 27
Pinocchio promised, and swore that he
would study, and that for the future he would
always conduct himself well.
And he kept his word for the remainder of
the year. Indeed, at the examinations before
the holidays, he had the honour of being the
first in the school, and his behaviour in general
was so satisfactory and praiseworthy that the
Fairy was very much pleased, and said to him:
“To-morrow your wish shall be gratified.”
“ And that is?”
" 'To-morrow you shall cease to be a wooden
puppet, and you shall become a boy."
No one who had not witnessed it could ever
imagine Pinocchio’s joy at this long-sighed-for
good fortune. All his schoolfellows were to be
invited for the following day to a grand break¬
fast at the Fairy’s house, that they might cele¬
brate together the great event. The Fairy had
prepared two hundred cups of coffee and milk,
and four hundred rolls cut and buttered on each
side. The day promised to be most happy and
delightful, but...
Unfortunately in the lives of puppets there
is always a “ but " that spoils everything.