ch
implied that Her Majesty was getting tired of the conversation, and
wished to change the subject. I must explain that on every occasion when
a foreign audience was taking place, one of the Court ladies was
always told off to watch Her Majesty, and whenever she appeared to be
displeased or tired of any particular subject under discussion, she, the
Court lady, would give the signal to the head eunuch, who would break in
upon the conversation in the above manner, and thus save the situation
from becoming embarrassing. So Her Majesty said good-bye to the ladies,
as she thought it would be too late for them to have to return to say
good-bye, besides which it would give them more time to see the various
sights.

The ladies then proceeded to the island in the Empress Dowager's
pleasure boat known as the Imperial barge, previously described, and
visited the temple. This temple is built on top of a small rock, in the
center of which is a natural cave, and it was generally supposed that
no human being had ever been inside of this cave. The Empress Dowager
believed the popular superstition that this hole was the home of the
King of Dragons--from which the temple derives its name.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN--THE EMPRESS'S PORTRAIT

AFTER staying a little while at the temple, we returned to the Palace,
and the ladies said goodbye and took chairs to the Palace gate, where
their own chairs were waiting for them. I then went to report to Her
Majesty in the usual way what had been said by the visitors; whether
they had expressed themselves as being pleased with the reception they
had received. Her Majesty said: "I like Mrs. Evans. I think she is a
very good woman. It seems to me that her manners are quite different
from those of the other American ladies whom I have met. I like to meet
people who are polite." Then, referring to the subject of the portrait
Her Majesty said: "I wonder why Mrs. Conger has this idea. Now please
explain to me what painting a portrait really is." When I explained that
it would be necessary for her to sit for several hours each day she was
excited, and afraid she would never have the patience to see it through.
She asked me what she must do during the sitting, so I explained that
she would simply have to pose for the portrait, sitting in one position
all the time She said: "I shall be an old woman by the time the portrait
is finished." I told her that I had had my own portrait painted during
my stay in Paris,