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12
RECOLLECTIONS OF
[Ch. II.

though of what nature I hardly knew. I glanced eagerly at my father, and seeing his countenance calm, I became more composed, but still I listened to every word of Captain D.'s detail as if my fate depended on what he was telling us. The earliest idea I had of Napoleon was that of a huge ogre or giant, with one large flaming red eye in the middle of his forehead, and long teeth protruding from his mouth, with which he tore to pieces and devoured naughty little girls, especially those who fid not know their lessons. I had rather grown out of this first opinion of Napoleon: but, if less childish, my terror of him was still hardly diminished. The name of Bonaparte was still associated, in my mind, with every thing that was bad and horrible. I and heard the most atrocious crimes imputed to him; and if I had learned to consider him as a human being. I yet still believed him to be the worst that had ever existed. Nor was I singular in these feel-

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