paint a mustache under his nose. One even attempted to tie strings to
his feet and his hands to make him dance.

For a while Pinocchio was very calm and quiet. Finally, however, he
lost all patience and turning to his tormentors, he said to them
threateningly:

"Careful, boys, I haven't come here to be made fun of. I'll respect you
and I want you to respect me."

"Hurrah for Dr. Know-all! You have spoken like a printed book!" howled
the boys, bursting with laughter. One of them, more impudent than the
rest, put out his hand to pull the Marionette's nose.

But he was not quick enough, for Pinocchio stretched his leg under the
table and kicked him hard on the shin.

"Oh, what hard feet!" cried the boy, rubbing the spot where the
Marionette had kicked him.

"And what elbows! They are even harder than the feet!" shouted another
one, who, because of some other trick, had received a blow in the
stomach.

With that kick and that blow Pinocchio gained everybody's favor.
Everyone admired him, danced attendance upon him, petted and caressed
him.

As the days passed into weeks, even the teacher praised him, for he saw
him attentive, hard working, and wide awake, always the first to come in