kindly offered to take her place!" But the audience did not take it
kindly-the lady was unknown to them, and who could say anything
about her singing-besides, they had excused the favorite vocalist
once, and they were not to be put off in this same way again.
Accordingly, a tremendous hiss arose, in the midst of which the
unfortunate manager rattled off the physician's certificate, letting
his voice drop, and flat away towards the end most comically, then
hastily departed for the side scenes.

In a few minutes the young debutante appeared. She was received with
a chilling silence, broken only by a few faint claps from some half
dozen good-natured persons, in consideration of her youth and
beauty. In defiance of her prepossessing appearance, the audience
seemed determined that they would not be cheated or flattered into a
single expression of approbation, but the manager observed with
rising hope that they forbore to hiss. Undismayed, and regardless of
the reception she met with, the young girl, with perfect composure,
began her role. As she continued, the whole richness and beauty of
her voice were brought out, and wholly unable to withstand such
wonderful, unexpected melody, the people manifested their delight
loudly, and at the conclusion of the opera, Signorina Zampieri was
called for loudly. At the request of the manager, she came forward,
and with polite indifference bowed in reply to the applause. Signora
Buonatti was forgotten! The people were amazed at the nonchalant
manner of the young favorite, who actually received a burst of
enthusiasm, such as rarely had greeted any singer, with such
coolness-who and what was this slender, youthful being, that was
neither awed by their sternness, nor delighted at their praises?

The selfish, scheming Cartillos at once perceived he had made a