Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/147

 be your buffoon. I respect others, and I intend to be respected.'

'Well said, boaster! You have spoken like a book!' howled the young rascals, convulsed with mad laughter; and one of them, more impertinent than the others, stretched out his hand intending to seize the puppet by the end of his nose.

But he was not in time, for Pinocchio stuck his leg out from under the table and gave him a great kick on his shins.

'Oh, what hard feet!' roared the boy, rubbing the bruise that the puppet had given him.

'And what elbows! . . . even harder than his feet! . . .' said another, who for his rude tricks had received a blow in the stomach.

But nevertheless the kick and the blow acquired at once for Pinocchio the sympathy and the esteem of all the boys in the school. They all made friends with him and liked him heartily.

And even the master praised him, for he found him attentive, studious, and intelligent—always the first to come to school, and the last to leave when school was over.

But he had one fault: he made too many friends; and amongst them were several young rascals well known for their dislike to study and love of mischief.

The master warned him every day, and