ady been decided that this Audience
Hall was to be furnished throughout in foreign style, with the exception
of the throne, which, of course, retained its Manchu appearance. Her
Majesty compared the different styles of furniture with the catalogues
we had brought with us from France and finally decided on the Louis
Fifteenth style, but everything was to be covered with Imperial Yellow,
with curtains and carpets to match. When everything had been selected
to Her Majesty's satisfaction, my mother asked permission to defray the
expense herself and make a present of this furniture. This Her Majesty
agreed to and the order was accordingly placed with a well-known Paris
firm from whom we had purchased furniture when in France. By the time
the building was completed the furniture had arrived, and it was quickly
installed. Her Majesty went to inspect it and, of course, had to find
fault as usual. She didn't seem at all pleased with the result of the
experiment and said that after all a Chinese building would have been
the best as it would have had a more dignified appearance. However, the
thing was finished and it was no use finding fault now, as it could not
be changed.

During the Summer months I had plenty of leisure time and devoted about
an hour each day to helping the Emperor with his English. He was a most
intelligent man with a wonderful memory and learned very quickly. His
pronunciation, however, was not good. In a very short time he was able
to read short stories out of an ordinary school reader and could write
from dictation fairly well. His handwriting was exceptionally fine,
while in copying old English and ornamental characters, he was an
expert. Her Majesty seemed pleased that the Emperor had taken up this
study, and said she thought of taking it up herself as she was quite
sure she would learn it very quickly if she tried. After two lessons she
lost patience, and did not mention the matter again.

Of course these lessons gave me plenty of opportunity to talk with His
Majesty, and on one occasion he ventured the remark that I didn't seem
to have made much progress with Her Majesty in the matter of reform.
I told him that many things had been accomplished since my arrival at
Court, and mentioned the new Audience Hall as an instance. He didn't
appear to think that anything worth talking about, and advised me to
give up the matter altogether. He said when the proper time arrived--if
it ever did arrive--then I might