Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/143

 body. But from to-day I will change my life.'

'Do you promise me?'

'I promise you. I will become a good little boy, and I will be the consolation of my papa. . . . Where is my poor papa at this moment?'

'I do not know.'

'Shall I ever have the happiness of seeing him again and kissing him?'

'I think so; indeed 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 looking 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 only knew the sorrow I felt and the tightening of my throat when I read, "here lies . . ."'

'I 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 your mamma. . . .'