er nervousness over the delay in the progress of the
play--then from genuine amusement....

I threw my will, my entire spirit, against the incoming tide of ridicule
which would wreck the play even with the rising of the curtain.

I pictured to myself the beautiful woman who had drowned herself; I
burned with her unhappiness ... I felt her hovering near me ... I
thought of the lovely passion we had known together ... I _was_ Iistral.

I was not on a stage, but in a room, holding actual and rapt communion
with my spirit-bride, Egeria!...

"Egeria! Egeria!" I sobbed ... and tears streamed down my face.

I was miserable, without her, in the flesh ... though she was there,
beside me, in soul!

* * * * *

I was aware of the audience again. I was proud and strong in my
confidence now. The tittering had stopped. The house was filling with
awe. I was pushing something back, back, back--over the footlights. I
did not stop pushing till it had reached the topmost galleries....

I _had_ them....

The applause after the first act was wonderful.

"Great! You're great ... you've vindicated my belief in you entirely!"
Dineen was shouting, as he clapped me on the back, beside himself.

"Oh, I knew I'd do it!... I want a drink!"

"Here's some grape juice!" Gertie Black hold out a glass to me....

"No, I won't drink that stuff," I replied, with all the petulance and
ill-humour traditionally allowed a star.

A Sig-Kapp, whom I had got into the play as a supe, slipped me a drink
of real booze....

* * * * *

I had to run to the toilet three times before the second act, I was so
nervous and excited.

"For God's sake, keep it up!" urged Dineen.

"For Christ's sake, let me alone, all of you,--I know what I'm doing,"
this, as the elocution teacher tried to press home some advice....

* * * * *

During the second act I was as electric as during the first, but now I
allowed myself to see over the foot-lights and recognise people I knew.
I even overheard one girl say to another, "why, Johnnie Gregory is
handsome in that Van Dyke!"

"Yes, he has a fine profile ... he looks quite distinguished."

* * * * *

Before the curtain for the third act, Jack Travers worked his way back
through the props to my dressing room....

"Sh! I've brought a nip of something real for you, Johnnie!"

"Bill already has