“But my mistress actually looked pleased, and speedily set my fears at rest by exclaiming, ‘Well, I’m blest if you ain’t cut out for a pantomime girl! You look spiffin, and I’ve more than half a mind to try it on.’ “A week later I had been engaged at a neighbouring theatre to perform in the ballet of the forthcoming pantomime. It was also arranged that I should live with Mrs Harridan, and help with some of her work, besides giving her the greater part of my earnings in exchange for my board and lodgings. But she wasn’t really hard on me, and gave me many a bit of useful finery. “Indeed, I shall never forget that she was my first real friend, and I am glad to be able to make her a small weekly allowance, now that she is past work. Brevity will not permit me to dwell on my early professional struggles. “Though I can honestly say that I was apt and industrious, it took me several years to achieve popularity. I was admittedly beautiful, and could act, sing and dance to perfection. But I was not able to make such a display as some of my less scrupulous fellow artistes. They boasted the ‘protection’ of this, that, or the other profligate, who invariably did his best to popularise the efforts of his favourite. “For a long time I prided myself on my virtue. Then I came to understand the real cause of my failure, and accepted the attentions of Viscount S. “He has provided quite handsomely for my two children, who are being educated in the belief that they are the orphans of a respectable couple called Mervyn. “But even yet I failed to reach the pinnacle of fame which I coveted, although I had ample means of display, and I cast round for another mode of attaining my object. I found my social step-ladder in the person of young Lord F., who became desperately enamoured with me, and was for a while more than anxious to marry me. Of course, I forgot to tell him about my two children. But I made the best of my opportunities, knowing full well that Lord F.’s infatuation could not last, and when he really did show an inclination to fight shy of the engagement I had plenty of people to prove that it had been an existing fact. “Three months later the ‘cause celebre’ of the day was the breach of promise action brought by Miss Winsome against Lord F. There was no vigorous attempt at a defence. I won my case ‘hands over,’ together with £5,000 damages. “I also won the notoriety I craved for, and the photographs of the beautiful and ill-treated Miss Winsome were shown in every fancy shop window in the country. “Managers ran after me. “I could dictate my own terms. “My audiences adored me, showered presents and bouquets upon me, and they have more than once unharnessed my horses and drawn me to my hotel in triumph.