.

The day after our arrival at the Summer Palace Her Majesty said that
we had better prepare everything for the audience to receive the lady
artist (Miss Carl). She told the chief eunuch to issue orders to all
the other eunuchs not to speak to Miss Carl, but simply be polite as
occasion required. We Court ladies received similar orders. Also, that
we were not to address Her Majesty while Miss Carl was present. The
Emperor received similar instructions. Her Majesty gave orders to have
the Gardens of Prince Chung's Palace ready. She then said to us: "I
trust you three to look after this lady artist. I have already given
orders for food to be supplied by the Wai Wu Pu. The only thing that
I have been worried about is that I have no foreign food here for Miss
Carl." She ordered us to have our stove taken over to Prince Chung's
Palace in case Miss Carl desired something cooked. She said: "I know
it will be very hard for you to take her to the Palace each morning and
return with her at night, besides having to watch her all day long, but
I know you do not mind. You are doing all this for me." After a while
she smiled, and said: "How selfish of me. I order you to bring all your
things to this place, but what is your father going to do? The best
thing will be to ask your father to come and live in the same place. The
country air might benefit him." We kowtowed and thanked Her Majesty,
as this was a special favor, no official nor anyone else having been
allowed to live in Prince Chung's Palace previously. We all were very
pleased--I could now see my father every day. Hitherto we had only been
able to see him about once a month, and then only by asking special
leave.

The next day Her Majesty sent us to Prince Chung's Palace to make all
necessary arrangements for Miss Carl's stay.

This Palace of Prince Chung's was a magnificent place. All the smaller
dwellings were quite separate from each other, not in one large
building, as was the custom. There was a small lake in the grounds, and
lovely little paths to walk along, exactly like the Empress Dowager's
Summer Palace, but, of course, on a much smaller scale. We selected one
of these small dwellings, or summer houses, for the use of Miss Carl
during her stay, and had it fitted up nicely, to make her as comfortable
as possible. We ourselves were to occupy the next house to Miss Carl, in
order that we might always be on hand, and at the same time keep a good
eye on her. We retur