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126
Recollections of
[Ch. XII.

merry ball, and the party did not separate until long after the booming guns from the forts around announced the break of day. We cared little for our walk home through the mist and rain, as we knew that on arriving at the Grand Marshal's cottage we should be refreshed by a good breakfast and comfortable beds. Napoleon complimented me on my dancing and appearance at the ball, which he had heard were much admired, and also told me that I was considered very like Baroness Sturmer, and might be mistaken for her young sister. I was flattered at the resemblance, as I thought her the prettiest woman I had ever seen.

I had been to a breakfast given to Lord Amherst, (the British ambassador to the Chinese empire,) on board the Newcastle, where this fête was held, the entertainers being Sir Pulteney and Lady Malcolm. On next visiting Longwood, I was surprised and vexed to find that the emperor had heard an account of the party from

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