"He ought to be beaten himself."

Phil shrugged his shoulders. Like most boys of his class, to him the
padrone seemed all-powerful. The idea that his oppressive taskmaster
should be punished for his cruelty had never dawned upon him. Knowing
nothing of any law that would protect him, he submitted to it as a
necessity, from which there was no escape except by running away. He
had not come to that yet, but some of his companions had done so, and he
might some day.

After this conversation he played another tune. Mrs. Leigh drew out her
purse, and gave him fifty cents. Phil took his fiddle under his arm,
and, following the servant, who now reappeared, emerged into the street,
and moved onward.



CHAPTER II

PHIL AND HIS PROTECTOR

To a certain extent Phil was his own master; that is, he was at liberty
to wander where he liked, provided he did not neglect his business, and
returned to the lodging-house at night with the required sum of money.
But woe to him if he were caught holding back any of the money for his
own use. In that case, he would be beaten, and sent to bed without his
supper, while the padrone, according to the terms of his contract with
the distant parent would withhold from the amount due the latter ten
times the sum kept by the boy. In the middle of the day he was allowed