In these cruel circumstances he endeavoured to do everything in his power to soften the pain of this rupture to my poor mother--himself almost broken-hearted at being forced to leave her--and made every possible arrangement for her comfort and well-being; settling a generous income on her, and providing lavishly for my maintenance and education.

But she would accept nothing from him--she could not receive his money without his love--'all or nothing' was her motto; and taking me with her she fled from him, successfully concealing her place of refuge.

She soon after joined a band of players travelling through the provinces, and resumed her old role; but her heart was broken, and she gradually faded away, dying at last when I was only about seven years old.

Even then I used to appear upon the stage in parts suitable to my age.

I was a precocious little thing in many ways.