be of use, but expressed grave doubts
on the subject. He also enquired about my father and I told him that
unless his health improved very soon it would be necessary for us to
leave the Court for a while at any rate. He replied that although he
should very much regret such a necessity, he really believed that it
would be for the best. He said he felt certain that I should never be
able to settle down permanently to Court life after spending so many
years abroad, and for his part would put no obstacles in the way of my
leaving the Court if I desired to do so.

Her Majesty had given me permission to visit my father twice every
month, and everything appeared to be going along nicely until one day
one of Her Majesty's servant girls told me that Her Majesty was trying
to arrange another marriage for me. At first I did not take any notice
of this, but shortly afterwards Her Majesty informed me that everything
was arranged and that I was to be married to a certain Prince whom
she had chosen. I could see that Her Majesty was waiting for me to say
something, so I told her that I was very much worried at that time about
my father and begged her to allow the matter to stand over for the time
being at any rate. This made Her Majesty very angry, and she told me
that she considered me very ungrateful after all she had done for me. I
didn't reply, and as her Majesty did not say anything more at the time,
I tried to forget about it. However, on my next visit home, I told my
father all about it, and as before he was strongly opposed to such a
marriage. He suggested that on my return to the Palace I should lay
the whole matter before Li Lien Ying, the head eunuch, and explain my
position, for if anybody could influence Her Majesty, he was the one.
I, therefore, took the first opportunity of speaking to him. At first he
appeared very reluctant to interfere in the matter, and said he thought
I ought to do as Her Majesty wished, but on my stating that I had no
desire to marry at all, but was quite willing to remain at Court in
my present position, he promised to do his best for me. I never heard
anything further about my marriage, either from Her Majesty or Li Lien
Ying, and therefore concluded that he had been able to arrange the
matter satisfactorily.

The Summer passed without anything further important occurring. During
the eighth moon the bamboos were cut down and here again the Court
ladies were called upon to assist, our work being