Page:Helen Leah Reed - Napoleons young neighbour.djvu/194

Rh do, that he must fulfil," was the Emperor's response.

Young though she was, Betsy understood the seriousness that underlay the superficial gayety most in evidence when Napoleon met her. She decided that he was not the cold, calculating man that most people thought him, but rather a man of deep feeling, capable of strong attachments.

One day, not long after he had left The Briars, a lady approached Betsy, who was in the grounds outside the house.

As she dismounted from her horse Betsy had recognized her as a French woman of high position, whose husband was one of the diplomatists then at St. Helena.

"Will you be so good," she said almost timidly to the little girl, "as to show me the part of the cottage occupied by the Emperor?"

"With pleasure," responded Betsy, leading the way to the Pavilion. The lady looked about her with great interest.

"Look!" said Betsy, pointing to the spot where the marquee had stood. "Look at this crown in the turf!"

The lady gazed for some minutes at this