Page:Helen Leah Reed - Napoleons young neighbour.djvu/211

Rh assembled, Rous Cottage, which had been chosen for this picnic fête, was named for the gallant flag officer of the Northumberland, whom Napoleon admired and called "a very brave man."

In the earlier part of the celebration, Betsy, flying among her friends, was too much absorbed to notice that Napoleon had not come, but when she missed him she began to look eagerly in the direction in which she might expect to see him appear. He had said he would come to the party, and Betsy expected him to keep his promise, though it was an unheard-of thing for him to mingle in a gay crowd.

After a while she was delighted to see him in the distance, riding along the hills. Soon she saw that he was no longer riding. His horse was at a standstill. What could this mean? Presently a messenger from the Emperor appeared to say that he would content himself by looking on.

The young hostess was not satisfied with this. Rushing off to the hill where Napoleon waited, she stood before him.

"This is not keeping your promise. You