As soon as the coach had drawn up the little man turned to Candlewick and with a thousand smirks and grimaces said to him, smiling: 

“Tell me, my fine boy, would you also like to go to that fortunate country?”

“I certainly wish to go.”

“But I must warn you, my dear child, that there is not a place left in the coach.  You can see for yourself that it is quite full.”

“No matter,” replied Candlewick, “if there is no place inside, I will manage to sit on the springs.”

And, giving a leap, he seated himself astride on the springs.

“And you, my love!” said the little man, turning in a flattering manner to Pinocchio, “what do you intend to do?  Are you coming with us or are you going to remain behind?”

“I remain behind,” answered Pinocchio.  “I am going home.  I intend to study, as all well conducted boys do.”

“Much good may it do you!”

“Pinocchio!” called out Candlewick, “listen to me:  come with us and we shall have such fun.”

“No, no, no!”

“Come with us and we shall have such fun,” shouted in chorus a hundred voices from the inside of the coach.

“But if I come with you, what will my good Fairy say?” said the puppet, who was beginning to yield.

“Do not trouble your head with melancholy thoughts.  Consider only that we are going to a country where we shall be at liberty to run riot from morning till night.”

Pinocchio did not answer, but he sighed; he sighed again; he sighed for the third time, and he said finally: 

“Make a little room for me, for I am coming, too.”

“The places are all full,” replied the little man; “but, to show you how welcome you are, you shall have my seat on the box.”

“And you?”

“Oh, I will go on foot.”

“No, indeed, I could not allow that.  I would rather mount one of these donkeys,” cried Pinocchio.

Approaching the right-hand donkey of the first pair, he attempted to mount him, but the animal turned on him and, giving him a great blow in the stomach, rolled him over with his legs in the air.

You can imagine the impertinent and immoderate laughter of all the boys who witnessed this scene.

But the little man did not laugh.  He approached the rebellious donkey and, pretending to give him a kiss, bit off half of his ear.

Pinocchio in the meantime had gotten up from the ground in a fury and, with a spring, he seated himself on the poor animal’s back.  And he sprang so well that the boys stopped laughing and began to shout:  “Hurrah, Pinocchio!” and they clapped their hands and applauded him as if they would never finish.

Now that Pinocchio was mounted, the coach started.  Whilst the donkeys were galloping and the coach was rattling over the stones of the high road, the puppet thought that he heard a low voice that was scarcely audible saying to him: