For an hour he
forgot the street and his uninviting home, and felt himself
surrounded by a true home atmosphere. He almost fancied himself
in his Calabrian home, with his mother and sisters about him --in
his home as it was before cupidity entered his father's heart and
impelled him to sell his own flesh and blood into slavery in a
foreign land. Phil could not analyze his own emotions, but these
were the feelings which rose in his heart, and filed it with
transient sadness.
"I thank you much," he said. "I will come again some day."
"Come soon, Phil," said Paul. "You know where my necktie stand
is. Come there any afternoon between four and five, and I will
take you home to supper. Do you know the way out, or shall I go
with you?"
"I know the way," said Phil.
He went downstairs and once more found himself on the sidewalk.
It was but six o'clock, and five or six hours were still before
him before he could feel at liberty to go home. Should he return
too early, he would be punished for losing the possible gains of
the hour he had lost, even if the sum he brought home were
otherwise satisfactory. So, whatever may be his fatigue, or
however inclement the weather, the poor Italian boy is compelled
to stay out till near midnight, before he is permitted to return
to the hard pallet on which only he can sleep off his fatigues.
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