amining the others, that when she came to look
at it again, she found that it had turned quite black. She could not
understand this at all, and exclaimed: "Why has this gone black? Is it
bad luck?" We explained to her that it must be washed after printing,
otherwise a strong light would cause the picture to fade, as this one
had done. She said: "How very interesting, and what a lot of work there
is."

After the printing process had been finished, my brother placed the
pictures in a chemical bath, as usual, finally washing them in clean
water. This caused Her Majesty even more surprise when she saw how clear
the pictures came out, and caused her to exclaim: "How extraordinary.
Everything is quite true to life." When they were finally completed,
she took the whole of them to her own room and sat down on her little
throne, and gazed at them for a long time. She even took her mirror in
order to compare her reflection with the photographs just taken.

All this time my brother was standing in the courtyard awaiting Her
Majesty's further commands. Suddenly she recollected this fact, and
said: "Why, I had forgotten all about your brother. The poor fellow
must be still standing waiting to know what I want next. You go and tell
him--no, I had better go and speak to him myself. He has worked so hard
all the day, that I want to say something to make him feel happy." She
ordered my brother to print ten copies of each of the photographs, and
to leave all his cameras at the Palace, in order that he could proceed
with the work the next day.

The following ten days it rained continually, which made Her Majesty
very impatient, as it was impossible to take any more photographs until
the weather improved. Her Majesty wanted to have some taken in the
Throne Room, but this room was too dark, the upper windows being pasted
over with thick paper, only the lower windows allowing the light to
enter. My brother tried several times, but failed to get a good picture.

During this rainy period the Court was moved to the Sea Palace, as
the Emperor was to sacrifice at the Temple of Earth. This was a yearly
ceremony and was carried out on similar lines to all other annual
ceremonies. On account of the rain Her Majesty ordered that boats should
be brought alongside the west shore of the Summer Palace. On entering
the boats, Her Majesty, accompanied by the Court, proceeded to
the Western Gate of the city, and on arrival at the last bridge,
disembarke