"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 withblue hair? Do you not remember the time when I came downstairs to letyou in, and you were caught by your foot, which you had stuck throughthe house-door?"
"I remember it all" shouted Pinocchio. "Tell me quickly, my beautifullittle Snail, where have you left my good Fairy? What is she doing? Hasshe forgiven me? Does she still remember me? Does she still wish mewell? Is she far from here? Can I go and see her?"
To all these rapid, breathless questions the Snail replied in her usualphlegmatic 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 hasfallen seriously ill, and she has not even enough to buy herself amouthful 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 toher, but I have only five dollars. Here they are--I was going to buy anew 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 onto be able to help her. Go, Snail, and be quick; and in two days returnto this place, for I hope I shall then be able to give you some moremoney. Up to this time I have worked to maintain my papa; from today Iwill 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 ahot August sun.
That evening Pinocchio, instead of going to bed at ten o'clock, sat uptill midnight had struck; and instead of making eight baskets of rusheshe made sixteen.
Then he went to bed and fell asleep. And whilst he slept he thought thathe 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 forgiveyou for all that is past. Boys who minister tenderly to their parentsand assist them in their misery and infirmities, are deserving of greatpraise and affection, even if they cannot be cited as examples ofobedience and good behavior. Try and do better in the future and youwill be happy."
At this moment his dream ended and Pinocchio opened his eyes and awoke.
But imagine his astonishment when upon awakening he discovered that hewas no longer a wooden puppet, but that he had become instead a boy,like all other boys. He gave a glance round and saw that the straw wallsof the hut had disappeared, and that he was in a pretty little roomfurnished and arranged with a simplicity that was almost elegance.Jumping out of bed he found a new suit of clothes ready for him, a newcap, and a pair of new boots, that fitted him beautifully.
He was hardly dressed when he naturally put his hands in his pocketsand pulled out a little ivory purse on which these words were written:"The Fairy with blue hair returns the five dollars to her dearPinocchio, and thanks him for his good heart." He opened the purse andinstead of five dollars he saw fifty shining gold pieces fresh from themint.
He then went and looked at himself in the glass, and he thought he wassome one else. For he no longer saw the usual reflection of a woodenpuppet; he was greeted instead by the image of a bright, intelligent boywith chestnut hair, blue eyes, and looking as happy and joyful as if itwere the Easter holidays.
In the midst of all these wonders succeeding each other, Pinocchio feltquite bewildered, and he could not tell if he was really awake or if hewas dreaming with his eyes open.
"Where can my papa be?" he exclaimed suddenly, and, going into the nextroom, he found old Geppetto quite well, lively, and in good humor, justas he had been formerly. He had already resumed his trade ofwood-carving, and he was designing a rich and beautiful frame of leaves,flowers and the heads of animals.
"Satisfy my curiosity, dear papa," said Pinocchio, throwing his armsaround his neck and covering him with kisses; "how can this suddenchange be accounted for?"
"This sudden change in our home is all your doing," answered Geppetto.
"How my doing?"
"Because when boys who have behaved badly turn over a new leaf andbecome good, they have the power of bringing contentment and happinessto their families."
"And where has the old wooden Pinocchio hidden himself?"
"There he is," answered Geppetto, and he pointed to a big puppetleaning against a chair, with its head on one side, its arms dangling,and its legs so crossed and bent that it was really a miracle that itremained standing.
Pinocchio turned and looked at it; and, after he had looked at it for ashort time, he said to himself with great complacency:
"How ridiculous I was when I was a puppet! And how glad I am that I havebecome a well-behaved little boy!"
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