Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/87

 immovable, like a real piece of wood, was seized with a fit of convulsive trembling that shook the whole bed.

'That puppet there,' continued the Talking-cricket, 'is a confirmed rogue. . . .'

Pinocchio opened his eyes, but shut them again immediately.

'He is a ragamuffin, a do-nothing, a vagabond. . . .'

Pinocchio hid his face beneath the clothes.

'That puppet there is a disobedient son who will make his poor father die of a broken heart! . . .'

At that instant a suffocated sound of sobs and crying was heard in the room. Imagine everybody's astonishment when, having raised the sheets a little, it was discovered that the sounds came from Pinocchio.

'When the dead person cries, it is a sign that he is on the road to get well,' said the Crow solemnly.

'I grieve to contradict my illustrious friend and colleague,' added the Owl; 'but for me, when the dead person cries, it is a sign that he is sorry to die.'