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. Never when in the palace have I seen a knee bend to the
Emperor, except that of the foreigner when greeting him or
bidding him farewell. This was the more noticeable as statesmen
and eunuchs alike fell upon their knees every time they spoke to
the Empress Dowager.
"The first time I saw him his great, pathetic, wistful eyes
followed me for days. I could not forget them, and I determined
that if I ever had opportunity I would say a few words to him
letting him know that the world was resting in hope of his
carrying out the great reforms he had instituted. But he was so
carefully guarded and kept under such strict surveillance that I
never found an opportunity to speak to him. Nor did he ever speak
to the visitors, court ladies, the Empress Dowager, or attendants
during all the hours we remained.
"One of the ministers told me that one day after an audience,
when the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had stepped down from
the dais, Her Majesty was engaged in conversation with one of his
colleagues, and as the Emperor stood near by, he made some remark
to him. Immediately the Empress Dowager turned from the one to
whom she had been talking and made answer for the Emperor.
"On one occasion when there were but four of us in the palace,
and we were all comfortably seated, the Emperor standing a few
paces behind the Empress Dowager, she began discussing the Boxer
movement, lamenting the loss of her long finger nails, and
various good-luck gourds of which she was fond
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