not five dollars," said Phil.

"Then I will lend you the money. You shall buy it, and when you have
earned money enough you shall come back to New York some day and pay
me."

"Thank you," said Phil, gratefully. "I will surely pay you."

"Of course you will, Phil," said Paul, confidently. "I can see by your
face that you are honest. I don't believe you would cheat your friend."

"I would not cheat you, Signor Paul."

"I see, Phil, you are bound to make an Italian of me. You may just
call me Paul, and don't mind about the signor. Now I'll tell you what I
propose. I cannot leave my business for an hour and a half. You can go
where you please, but come back at that time, and I will take you home
to dinner with me. On the way back I will stop with you at the Chatham
Street store and ask the price of the violin; then, if it doesn't cost
too much, I will buy it."

"All right," said Phil.

"You must come back at twelve o'clock, Phil."

"I will come."

Phil strolled down to the Battery, feeling a little strange without his
violin. He was elated with the thought of his coming freedom, and for
the first time since he landed in America the future looked bright to
him.

CHAPTER XIV

THE TAMBOURINE GIRL

Arriving at Trinity Church, Phil turned into Wall Street, looking about
him in a desultory way, for he was at present out of business. Men and
boys were hurrying by in different directions, to and from banks and
insurance offices, while here and there a lawyer or lawyer's clerk might
be seen looking no less busy and preoccupied. If Phil had had three
thousand dollars instead of three, he, too, might have been interested
in the price of gold and stocks; but his financial education had
been neglected, and he could not have guessed within twenty the day's
quotations for either.

As he walked along his attention was suddenly drawn to a pair of
Italians, a man and a girl of twelve, the former turning a hand-organ,
the latter playing a tambourine. There was nothing unusual in the group;
but Phil's heart beat quick for in the girl he thought he recognized a
playmate from the same village in which he was born and bred.

"Lucia!" he called, eagerly approaching the pair.

The girl turned quickly, and, seeing the young fiddler, let fall her
tambourine in surprise.

"Filippo!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with the joy with which
we greet a friend's face in a strange land.

"Why did you drop your tambourine, scel