Пиноккио

           "Whatagreatland!"saidPinocchio,feelinghismouthwater."Whatabeautifulland!Ihaveneverbeenthere,butIcanwellimagineit." 

           "Whydon’tyoucome,too?" 

           "Itisuselessforyoutotemptme!ItoldyouIpromisedmygoodFairytobehavemyself,andIamgoingtokeepmyword." 

           "Good-by,then,andremembermetothegrammarschools,tothehighschools,andeventothecollegesifyoumeetthemontheway." 

           "Good-by,Lamp-Wick.Haveapleasanttrip,enjoyyourself,andrememberyourfriendsonceinawhile." 

           Withthesewords,theMarionettestartedonhiswayhome.Turningoncemoretohisfriend,heaskedhim: 

           "Butareyousurethat,inthatcountry,eachweekiscomposedofsixSaturdaysandoneSunday?" 

           "Verysure!" 

           "AndthatvacationbeginsonthefirstofJanuaryandendsonthethirty-firstofDecember?" 

           "Very,verysure!" 

           "Whatagreatcountry!"repeatedPinocchio,puzzledastowhattodo. 

           Then,insuddendetermination,hesaidhurriedly: 

           "Good-byforthelasttime,andgoodluck." 

           "Good-by." 

           "Howsoonwillyougo?" 

           "Withintwohours." 

           "Whatapity!Ifitwereonlyonehour,Imightwaitforyou." 

           "AndtheFairy?" 

           "BythistimeI’mlate,andonehourmoreorlessmakesverylittledifference." 

           "PoorPinocchio!AndiftheFairyscoldsyou?" 

           "Oh,I’llletherscold.Aftershegetstired,shewillstop." 

           Inthemeantime,thenightbecamedarkeranddarker.Allatonceinthedistanceasmalllightflickered.Aqueersoundcouldbeheard,softasalittlebell,andfaintandmuffledlikethebuzzofafar-awaymosquito. 

           "Thereitis!"criedLamp-Wick,jumpingtohisfeet. 

           "What?"whisperedPinocchio