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.
Again in the street, Phil felt that he must make up for lost time.

Now six o'clock is not a very favorable time for street music; citizens who do business downtown have mostly gone home to dinner.

Those who have not started are in haste, and little disposed to heed the appeal of the young minstrel.