noon
If a girl could make up her mind to accept shame , bodily injury if she displeased , and a life of toil , she fared better under Blizzard 's direction than her sister who worked for Ecbaum , let us say , the lacemaker , or Laskar , or any of a thousand East Side employers of labor . The man could be kind upon impulse , and generous . He paid the highest wages . He supplied nourishing food at noon , and a complete hour in which to discuss it . Furthermore , if a girl pleased him , the work of her hands was subjected to less critical inspection , and if she had any music in her , he invited her upstairs sometimes to work the pedals of his grand piano , while his own powerful , hairy hands rippled and thundered upon the keys . He was of a Godlike kindness when his mind inclined to music , and the pedalling was skilful and sure . But let the unfortunate crouched under the key-board , her trembling hands taking the place of those feet which the master had lost , respond stupidly to the signals conveyed to her shoulder by graduated pressures from the stump of his right leg , and punishment of blows , pinchings , and sarcasms was swift and sure .