I
accordingly wrote from America to the proper quarter a full
confession of my sin with regard to the two youths who had told
merely the truth, at the same time pointing out the falsehood of
all the rest of the accusations.
"I remained in America six years, and actually made money, so
that I could return to England with a small capital. I was also
under a promise to my three sisters (all older than myself) that
I would return in their lifetime. My programme was to purchase a
small, light business in London, and quietly earn my living; at
the same time making my presence known to no one. I _did_ buy
such a business, got swindled in the most clever way, and lost
every farthing I possessed in the world! I had to make my plight
known to old friends who all either gave or lent me money. Still
my position was a very precarious one. I tried an insurance
agency, one of the last resources of the educated destitute, but
soon found out that I was unfitted for work in which _impudence_
is a prime factor. Then an extraordinary stroke of good fortune
took place; almost simultaneously I began to get a few music
pupils, and literary work in connection with a good musical
journal.
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