The drama of Saint Helena . and tolerated her exces-sive licence. I never met with any one, shewrote later, who bore childish liberties so wellas Napoleon. He seemed to enter into every sortof mirth or fun with the glee of a child, and thoughI have often tried his patience severely, I neverknew him lose his temper or fall back upon hisrank or a^e to shield himself from the conse-quences of his own familiarity, or of his indulgenceto me. If Betsy had only confined herself to importunities!But this extremely pretty, fair-haired little girl, withcat-like eyes, had her mischievous moods. Whenshe c
The drama of Saint Helena . and tolerated her exces-sive licence. I never met with any one, shewrote later, who bore childish liberties so wellas Napoleon. He seemed to enter into every sortof mirth or fun with the glee of a child, and thoughI have often tried his patience severely, I neverknew him lose his temper or fall back upon hisrank or a^e to shield himself from the conse-quences of his own familiarity, or of his indulgenceto me. If Betsy had only confined herself to importunities!But this extremely pretty, fair-haired little girl, withcat-like eyes, had her mischievous moods. Whenshe came upon the Emperor working in the summer-house, she used to throw confusion among his papers,or else, snatching them up, she would run away,shouting : I shall find out all your secrets. Shewould let the Newfoundland dog, Tompipes, intothe orchard, and incite him to dive into a pondfull of goldfish ; then slyly lead him to Napoleonwho was busy writing. The drenched creatureshaking himself, suddenly besprinkled the Emperor,. THE ISLAND OF EXILE 23 and the guilty minx burst out laughing when shesaw the damage done to the fine green coat, thewhite breeches, the silk stockings and the pumpswith gold buckles of her unfortunate big still ! One day, as he was sealing his letters,she pushed his elbow and caused some drops ofburning wax to fall on his fingers: It was verypainful and raised a large blister, she relatescandidly ; but he was so very good-humouredabout it, that I told him I was quite sorry forwhat I had done. People were greatly surprised, in 1843, whenBetsy Balcombe published her Recollections, to findthe Emperor—according to general notions, alwaysstern, unapproachable, prompt to fly into a passion,—so capable, at times, of gentleness, condescension,and patience. Other memoirs, appearing since, intheir turn, revealed the simplicity of manner andall the tenderness of Napoleon towards his son :how, ordering the King of Rome to be broughtto his study at the
Size: 1139px × 2195px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectnapoleo, bookyear1910
