Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/98

 'What a good Fairy you are,' said the puppet, drying his eyes, 'and how much I love you!'

'I love you also,' answered the Fairy; 'and if you will remain with me, you shall be my little brother and I will be your good little sister. . . .'

'I would remain willingly. . . but my poor papa?'

'I have thought of everything. I have already let your father know, and he will be here to-night.'

'Really?' shouted Pinocchio, jumping for joy. 'Then, little Fairy, if you consent, I should like to go and meet him. I am so anxious to give a kiss to that poor old man who has suffered so much on my account, that I am counting the minutes.'

'Go, then, but be careful not to lose yourself. Take the road through the wood and I am sure that you will meet him.'

Pinocchio set out; and as soon as he was in the wood he began to run like a kid. But when he had reached a certain spot, almost in front of the Big Oak, he stopped, because he thought that he heard people amongst the bushes. In fact, two persons came out on to the road. Can you guess who they were? . . . His two travelling companions, the Fox and the Cat, with whom he had supped at the inn of the Red Craw-fish.