Pinocchio ran to look at himself in a bowl of water, andhe felt so happy that he said proudly:

　　"Now I look like a gentleman.""Truly," answered Geppetto. "But remember that fineclothes do not make the man unless they be neat and clean.""Very true," answered Pinocchio, "but, in order to goto school, I still need something very important.""What is it?""An A-B-C book.""To be sure! But how shall we get it?""That's easy. We'll go to a bookstore and buy it.""And the money?""I have none.""Neither have I," said the old man sadly.

　　Pinocchio, although a happy boy always, became sadand downcast at these words. When poverty shows itself,even mischievous boys understand what it means.

　　"What does it matter, after all?" cried Geppetto all atonce, as he jumped up from his chair. Putting on his oldcoat, full of darns and patches, he ran out of the housewithout another word.

　　After a while he returned. In his hands he had theA-B-C book for his son, but the old coat was gone. Thepoor fellow was in his shirt sleeves and the day was cold.

　　"Where's your coat, Father?""I have sold it.""Why did you sell your coat?""It was too warm."Pinocchio understood the answer in a twinkling, and,unable to restrain his tears, he jumped on his father's neckand kissed him over and over.

　　皮诺乔马上跑到一脸盆水那里去照，对自己的模样满意极了，神气活现地说：
　　“我真像一位体面的先生！”
　　“不错，”杰佩托回答说，“可是你要记住，使人成为体面先生的不是好衣服，而主要是干净的衣服。”
　　“不过”，木偶又说了，“我上学还少一样东西，一样最要紧的东西。”
　　“什么东西？”
　　“我还少一本识字课本。”
　　“你说得对，可怎么弄到它呢。”
　　“那还不方便，到书店里买就是了。”
　　“钱呢？……”
　　“我没钱。”
　　“我也没钱，”好老头说，心里很难过。
　　皮诺乔尽管是个快活透顶的孩子，可也难过起来了。因为一件真正伤心的事，那是人人都会懂得的，连孩子也不例外。
　　“没法子，只好这么办！”杰佩托叫了一声，忽然站起来，穿上打满补丁的粗布旧上衣，跑出门去了。
　　一会儿工夫他就回来。回来的时候，他手里拿着给他孩子买的识字课本，可短上衣没有了。这个可怜人只穿着衬衫，外面可是在下雪。
　　“上衣呢，爸爸？”
　　“我给卖了。”
　　“为什么卖了？”
　　“因为我热。”
　　他回答的这句话是什么意思，皮诺乔一下子就明白了，他那颗良心不由得一阵冲动，就扑上去抱住杰佩托的脖子，在他的整个脸上到处亲吻。