Page:Notable Irishwomen.djvu/188

 minutes, and numerous calls before the curtain. Later on, in 1846, she had a successful visit at Vienna. While she was at Florence, Catalani's villa was open to her, and the ex- queen of Itahan song kissed her affectionately, and said, "What would I not give to be in London when you are making your debut! Your fortune is certain."

An offer of a London engagement soon followed. She was engaged for the season at a salary of £1,300, and made her first appearance at Covent Garden on the 10th April, 1849. Native singers who had won a reputation on the continent, such as she had done, were indeed scarce, and she received such an uproarious welcome, that she was quite overcome. The opera chosen was Linda di Chamouni, and it was not till the end of the well-known air, O Luce di Quest Anima, that she recovered herself and introduced her celebrated shake, winning great applause and an encore. The mad scene was, according to the Times, sung with admirable effect, especially the bravura passage, "Non e Ver," in which her execution of the chromatic passages was perfect, and the ascending scale with the violin was accomplished with remarkable decision and brilliancy. At the end of the performance, after the curtain fell, she was seen kneeling in a private box before her first patron, the Bishop of Limerick, sobbing out her gratitude to him for all he had done for her. No doubt, in that moment of triumph