oks."

"He might beat you, too, Paolo."

"I should like to see him try it," said Paul, straightening up with a
consciousness of strength. "He might find that rather hard."

Phil looked admiringly at the boy who was not afraid of the padrone.
Like his comrades, he had been accustomed to think of the padrone as
possessed of unlimited power, and never dreamed of anybody defying him,
or resisting his threats. Though he had determined to run away, his soul
was not free from the tyranny of his late taskmaster, and he thought
with uneasiness and dread of the possibility of his being conveyed back
to him.

"Well, mother," said Paul, glancing at the clock as he rose from the
breakfast table, "it is almost nine o'clock--rather a late hour for a
business man like me."

"You are not often so late, Paul."

"It is lucky that I am my own employer, or I might run the risk of
being discharged. I am afraid the excuse that I was at Mrs. Hoffman's
fashionable party would not be thought sufficient. I guess I won't have
time to stop to shave this morning."

"You haven't got anything to shave," said Jimmy.

"Don't be envious, Jimmy. I counted several hairs this morning. Well,
Phil, are you ready to go with me? Don't forget your fiddle."

"When shall we see you again, Philip?" said Mrs. Hoffman.

"I do not know," said the little minstrel.

"Shall you not come to the city sometimes?"

"I am afraid the padrone would catch me," said Phil.

"Whenever you do come, Phil," said Paul, "come right to me. I will take
care of you. I don't think the padrone will carry us both off, and he
would have to take me if he took you."

"Good-by, Philip," said Mrs. Hoffman, offering her hand. "I hope you
will prosper."

"So do I, Phil," said Jimmy.

Phil thus took with him the farewells and good wishes of two friends
who had been drawn to him by his attractive face and good qualities. He
could not help wishing that he might stay with them permanently, but he
knew that this could not be. To remain in the same city with the padrone
was out of the question.

Meanwhile we return to the house which Phil had forsaken, and inquire
what effect was produced by his non-appearance.

It was the rule of the establishment that all the boys should be back
by midnight. Phil had generally returned an hour before that time. When,
therefore, it was near midnight, the padrone looked uneasily at the
clock.

"Have you seen Filippo?" he asked, addressing his neph