by the same artist Mrs. Conger had proposed should
paint her own portrait (Miss Carl). She immediately told me to fetch
the portrait of myself so that she could examine it and see what it was
like, so I gave the order right away to a eunuch who was standing by to
go to my house and bring it. Her Majesty said: "I do not understand
why I must sit for the portrait Couldn't someone else do it for me."
I explained to her that as it was her own portrait, and not that of
somebody else, they wished to paint, it would be necessary for her to
sit herself. She then enquired whether it would be necessary for her to
wear the same dress at each sitting, also the same jewels and ornaments.
I replied that it would be necessary to do so on each occasion. Her
Majesty then explained that in China it was only necessary for an artist
to see his subject once, after which he could start right away and
finish the portrait in a very short time, and thought that a really
first-class foreign artist should be able to do the same. Of course I
explained the difference between foreign portrait painting and Chinese,
and told her that when she had seen it she would see the difference and
understand the reason for so many sittings. She said: "I wonder what
kind of a person this lady artist is. Does she speak Chinese?" I said
that I knew Miss Carl very well, and that she was a very nice lady, but
that she didn't speak Chinese. She said: "If her brother has been in the
Customs service for so long, how is it that she doesn't speak Chinese
also?" I told her that Miss Carl had been away from China for a long
time; that in fact she had only been in China for a very short time
altogether, most of her work being in Europe and America. Her Majesty
said: "I am glad she doesn't understand Chinese. The only objection
about this portrait painting is that I have to have a foreigner at the
Palace all the time. With my own people gossiping they might tell her
things which I don't want anyone to know." I told her that would be
impossible as Miss Carl did not understand Chinese at all, neither did
any of the people at Court understand English, with the exception of
ourselves (my mother, sister and myself). Her Majesty answered: "You
must not rely too much on that, as after spending a short time at the
Court they will soon learn to understand each other." Continuing,
she said: "By the way, how long will it take before this portrait is
finished?" I told her that it depended