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to banish the love of country from her heart, and that France
was still her home!



CHAPTER X.

PILGRIMAGE THROUGH FRANCE.

The sojourn of the Duchess of St. Leu in England where she arrived with
her son after a stormy passage, was for both a succession of triumphs
and ovations. The high aristocracy of London heaped upon her proofs of
esteem, of reverence, and of love; every one seemed anxious to atone for
the severity and cruelty with which England had treated the emperor, by
giving proofs of their admiration and respect for his step-daughter. All
these proud English aristocrats seemed desirous of proving to the
duchess and her son that they were not of the same disposition as Hudson
Lowe, who had slowly tormented the chained lion to death with petty
annoyances.

The Duchess of Bedford, Lord and Lady Holland, and Lady Grey, in
particular, were untiring in their efforts to do the honors of their
country to Hortense, and to show her every possible attention. But
Hortense declined their proffered invitations. She avoided all
publicity; she feared, on her own and her son's account, that the tattle
of the world and the newspapers might once more draw down upon her the
distrust and ill-will of the French government. She feared that this
might prevent her returning with her son, through France, to her quiet
retreat on the Lake of Constance, in Switzerland, to her charming
Arenenberg, where she had passed so many delightful and peaceful years
of repose and remembrance.

Hortense was right. Her sojourn in England excited, as soon as it became
known, in every quarter, care, curiosity, and disquiet. All parties were
seeking to divine the duchess's intention in residing in London. All
parties were convinced that she entertained plans that might endanger
and frustrate their own. The Duchess de Berri, who resided in Bath, had
come to London as soon as she heard of the arrival of the Duchess of St.
Leu, in order to i


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