screen, with the
Young Empress. It was so very quiet, not a sound anywhere, that we could
hear the boots of the visitors as they walked over the stones in the
courtyard. We were peeping from behind the screen, and could see several
of the Princes mounting the steps, conducting these people to the Hall.
The Admiral and the American Minister came in, and stood in a line. They
bowed three times to the Empress Dowager. The Emperor was also on his
throne, sitting at her left hand. His throne was very small, just
like an ordinary chair. Her Majesty's speech was simply to welcome the
Admiral to China. They then came up to the dais and shook hands with
their Majesties, ascending on one side, and retiring down the other.
Prince Ching took them into another Palace building, where they had
lunch, and the audience was over. It was very simple and formal.

After the audience was over Her Majesty said that she could hear us
laughing behind the screen, and that maybe the people would talk about
it, and did not like it at all. I told her that it was not myself who
laughed. She said: "The next time when I have men in audience you need
not come into the Audience Hall at all. Of course it is different when I
have my own people at the morning audiences."

Her Majesty did not go to her bedroom that afternoon. She said she
wanted to wait until these people had gone and hear what they had to
say. After a couple of hours Prince Ching came in and reported that they
had lunched, and that they were very pleased to have seen Her Majesty,
and had gone away. I must here explain that the Admiral had entered by
the left gate of the Palace. The middle gate was only used for Their
Majesties, with one exception, viz.: in the case of anyone presenting
credentials. Then they entered by the center gate. The Admiral left by
the same gate he had entered. Her Majesty asked Prince Ching whether
he had showed them around the Palace buildings or not (this was in
the Summer Palace), and what they had thought about it. Did they say
anything, and were they pleased or not. She said to Prince Ching: "You
can go now, and make the necessary preparations for the ladies' audience
next day." That same evening Her Majesty said to us: "You must all dress
alike to-morrow, and wear your prettiest clothes. These foreign ladies
who are coming to the Palace may never see us again, and if we don't
show them what we have now, we will not have another opportunity." She
ordered us a