market to buy myself a jacket, a cap, and
a pair of shoes. When I return," he added, laughing, "I shall be so well
dressed that you will take me for a fine gentleman."

And, leaving the house, he began to run merrily and happily along. All
at once he heard himself called by name and, turning around, he saw a
big Snail crawling out from the hedge.

"Do you not know me?" asked the Snail.

"It seems to me--and yet I am not sure--"

"Do you not remember the Snail who was lady's-maid to the Fairy with
blue hair? Do you not remember the time when I came downstairs to let
you in, and you were caught by your foot, which you had stuck through
the house-door?"

"I remember it all" shouted Pinocchio. "Tell me quickly, my beautiful
little Snail, where have you left my good Fairy? What is she doing? Has
she forgiven me? Does she still remember me? Does she still wish me
well? Is she far from here? Can I go and see her?"

To all these rapid, breathless questions the Snail replied in her usual
phlegmatic manner:

"My dear Pinocchio, the poor Fairy is lying in bed at the hospital!"

"At the hospital?"

"It is only too true. Overtaken by a thousand misfortunes, she has
fallen seriously ill, and she has not even enough to buy herself a
mouthful of bread."

"Is it really so? Oh, what sorrow you have given me! Oh, poor Fairy!
Poor Fairy! Poor Fairy! If I had a million I would run and carry it to
her, but I have only five dollars. Here they are--I was going to buy a
new coat. Take them, Snail, and carry them at once to my good Fairy."

"And your new coat?"

"What matters my new coat? I would sell even these rags that I have on
to be able to help her. Go, Snail, and be quick; and in two days return
to this place, for I hope I shall then be able to give you some more
money. Up to this time I have worked to maintain my papa; from today I
will work five hours more that I may also maintain my good mamma.
Good-bye, Snail, I shall expect you in two days."

The Snail, contrary to her usual habits, began to run like a lizard in a
hot August sun.

That evening Pinocchio, instead of going to bed at ten o'clock, sat up
till midnight had struck; and instead of making eight baskets of rushes
he made sixteen.

Then he went to bed and fell asleep. And whilst he slept he thought that
he saw the Fairy, smiling and beautiful, who, after having kissed him,
said to him:

"Well done, Pinocchio! To reward you for your good heart I will forgi