was able to get up and resume my duties. I went in
to see Her Majesty and kowtowed to her, thanking her for her kindness
during my indisposition. Her Majesty said that the head eunuch had told
her the previous evening that I was much better and that she was glad I
was up and about again. She said it was nothing serious, simply that I
was unaccustomed to the fumes from the fires, which had gone to my head.

As the snow had stopped falling, Her Majesty decided that the next day
we would go and choose a place for Miss Carl to continue the painting.
I suggested that perhaps it would be better if we waited until Miss Carl
arrived herself, so that she could choose a suitable place for her work,
but Her Majesty said that would not do at all, because if it were left
to Miss Carl, doubtless she would choose some impossible place. Of
course there were many parts of the Palace which were kept quite private
and Miss Carl would not be allowed to go there. So the next day
Her Majesty and myself set out to find a place. After visiting many
different rooms, all of which were too dark, we finally fixed on a
room on the lake side of the Palace. Her Majesty said: "This is very
convenient, as you can go to and fro either by chair or by water." I
found that it took about three-quarters of an hour by chair to get to
the Palace Gate, and rather less than that by boat. I was expecting
to return to stay at the Palace with Her Majesty, but it was finally
decided that this would not do, as it would not be policy to allow Miss
Carl, who was staying at the American Legation, to go in and out of the
Palace Gate alone, so Her Majesty said it would be better for me to stay
at my father's place in the city and bring Miss Carl to the Palace
each morning, returning with her in the evening. This was anything but
pleasant, but I had no other alternative than to obey Her Majesty's
instructions.

When Miss Carl arrived at the Palace the next day and saw the room which
had been selected for her to work in, she was not at all pleased. In the
first place she said it was too dark, so Her Majesty ordered the paper
windows to be replaced by glass. This made the room too bright, and Miss
Carl asked for some curtains so as to focus the light on the picture.
When I informed Her Majesty of this request, she said: "Well, this is
the first time I have ever changed anything in the Palace except to suit
myself. First I alter the windows, and she is not satisfied, but must