Page:Helen Leah Reed - Napoleons young neighbour.djvu/138

112 Napoleon listened attentively to her reading. "Dr. Warden's word is a very true one," he said. Betsy finished her stay at Longwood this day by remaining awhile with Madame Bertrand.

The news of Betsy's visit to Napoleon without the requisite permission reached the Governor's ears; and Mr. Balcombe was severely reproved. In fact, he nearly lost his position. The Governor from the first insisted that Mr. Balcombe always acted in the interest of Napoleon, and hence, as he viewed it in his narrow-mindedness, against the interests of the English Government. Thus we can see that Napoleon's young neighbor was wrong in doing things that drew on her father the Governor's reproof.

"My dears," said Mr. Balcombe one morning, "I am going to Longwood to-morrow, and the Emperor has expressly asked me to bring you. He has something curious to show you."

"What can it be?" the girls asked each other. This special invitation, promising a special pleasure, made them eager to start when the next morning came.