She had gone to Melilli, in the country beyond Ajaccio, to visit her mother and step-father--the father and mother of her half-brother, "Uncle Joey Fesch," as the Bonaparte children called him.

Melilli was in the midst of fields and forests and luscious vineyards, and it was a great treat for the children to go there to visit their grandmother.
Sometimes their mother would take one or two of the children with her; but on this visit she had gone alone.

That very evening her husband was to join her, and there had been great contention among the children as to which of them should accompany their father.
Before leaving the supper-table "Papa Charles" announced that their Uncle Santa's carriage would be at the door in half an hour; that Uncle Joey Fesch would drive; and that Joseph and Lucien and Eliza--"the good children," as he called them--should go with him to Melilli to visit their Grandmother Fesch, and bring back Mamma Letitia.

Joseph exulted loudly; Eliza said nothing; and baby Lucien crowed his delight.

But Pauline slipped out into the pantry where Napoleon stood silent and still defiant.