Page:Helen Leah Reed - Napoleons young neighbour.djvu/164

138 This compliment pleased Betsy mightily, as doubtless Napoleon realized, for the little English girl thought Baroness Sturmer, wife of the Austrian Commissioner, the prettiest woman she had ever seen.

Not long after breakfast the visitors from The Briars and several from Longwood went to the town and to the Newcastle in the bay, on board of which Sir Pultney and Lady Malcom were to give a breakfast in honor of Lord Amherst.

When next the sisters visited Longwood, "Ah, Mees Betsee," cried Napoleon, "I have heard great stories of you. You locked up little Miss P. the other day, while the other ladies were being shipped over the side of the frigate to return to shore. When they missed her Captain G. had to go back to rescue her."

As Betsy did not deny this charge, Napoleon, turning to her father, exclaimed:

"Balcombe, you must set her a task."

"Indeed I must," responded Betsy's father gravely.

"But I have been punished enough," protested Betsy. "Lady Lowe scolded me, too,