Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/37

 Pinocchio, urged by desperation and hunger, laid hold of the bell of a house and began to peal it with all his might, saying to himself:

'That will bring somebody.'

And so it did. A little old man appeared at a window with a nightcap on his head, and called to him angrily:

'What do you want at such an hour?'

'Would you be kind enough to give me a little bread?'

'Wait there, I will be back directly,' said the little old man, thinking he had to do with one of those rascally boys who amuse themselves at night by ringing the house bells to rouse respectable people who are sleeping quietly.

After half a minute the window was again opened, and the voice of the same little old man shouted to Pinocchio:

'Come underneath and hold out your cap.'

Pinocchio pulled off his cap; but just as he held it out an enormous basin of water was poured down on him, watering him from head to foot as if he had been a pot of dried-up geraniums.

He returned home like a wet chicken quite exhausted with fatigue and hunger; and having no longer strength to stand, he sat down and rested his damp and muddy feet on a brazier full of burning embers.