Moreover, her dainty appearance, and
a certain dash and abandon she had with her, carried the audience
irresistibly away, and had Fanny Wopples not been a really good
girl, she would have been jealous of the success achieved by the
new-comer. She, however, taught Kitty to dance breakdowns, and at
Warrnambool they had a benefit, when 'Faust, M.D.' was produced, and
Fanny sang her great success, 'I've just had a row with mamma', and
Kitty sang the jewel song from 'Faust' in a manner worthy of
Neilson, as the local critic--who had never heard Neilson--said the
next day. Altogether, Kitty fully repaid the good action of Mr
Wopples by making his tour a wonderful success, and the family
returned to Melbourne in high glee with full pockets.
'Next year,' said Mr Wopples, at a supper which they had to
celebrate the success of their tour, 'we'll have a theatre in
Melbourne, and I'll make it the favourite house of the city, see if
I don't.'
It seemed, therefore, as though Kitty had found her vocation, and
would develop into an operatic star, but fate intervened, and Miss
Marchurst retired from the stage, which she had adorned so much.
This was due to Madame Midas, who, driving down Collins Street one
day, saw Kitty at the corner walking with Fanny Wopples. She
immediately stopped her carriage, and alighting therefrom, went
straight up to the girl, who, turning and seeing her for the first
time, grew deadly pale.
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