Majesty stopped me and said that she would sit on one of the chairs in
the room, and so bring me good luck. So she sat down in an easy chair.
A eunuch brought in her tea, which I handed to her myself instead of
letting the eunuch wait upon her. This of course was Court etiquette,
and was also a sign of respect

After she had finished her tea, she got up and went around the room,
examining everything, opening up all my bureau drawers and boxes in
order to see whether I kept my things in proper order. Happening to
glance into one corner of the room she exclaimed: "What are those
pictures on the table over there," and walked across to examine them. As
soon as she picked them up, she exclaimed in much surprise: "Why, they
are all photographs of yourself, and are very much better than the
picture you had painted. They are more like you. Why didn't you show
them to me before?" I hardly knew what to answer, and when she saw that
I was very much embarrassed by her question, she immediately started
talking about something else. She often acted in this manner when she
saw that any of us were not quite prepared for any of her questions,
but she would be sure to reopen the subject at some future time, when we
were expected to give a direct answer.

After examining the photographs for sometime, which by the way, were
all taken in European dress, Her Majesty said: "Now these are good
photographs; much better than the portrait you had painted. Still I have
given my promise, and I suppose I shall have to keep it. However, if
I do have my photograph taken, it will not interfere at all with the
painting of the portrait. The only trouble is I cannot ask an ordinary
professional photographer to the Palace. It would hardly be the thing."

My mother thereupon explained to Her Majesty that if she desired to have
her photograph taken, one of my brothers, who had studied photography
for some considerable time, would be able to do all that was necessary.

I would like to explain that I had two brothers at Court at that time,
who held appointments under the Empress Dowager. One was in charge of
all the electrical installation at the Summer Palace, and the other, her
private steam launch. It was the custom for all the sons of the Manchu
officials to hold certain positions at the Court for two or three years.
They were perfectly free to walk about the grounds of the Palace, and
saw Her Majesty daily. Her Majesty was always very kind to these yo