Not long after this came the first request from the palace for me to attend on the queen, to which I responded not without some anxiety, lest through some unlooked-for occurrence some misstep on my part, the work of our mission so auspiciously begun should be hindered or stopped. As yet somewhat uncertain of our foothold, ignorant to a large extent of the people with whom we had to deal, we trembled lest some inadvertence might close the door, only so lately and unwillingly opened. I had been told I must always go in full court dress, but when I came to open the boxes, which contained the gowns prepared for this purpose, I found that both had been ruined in crossing the Pacific and could not be worn. Alas! how inauspicious to be obliged to appear before royalty in unsuitable attire, which might be attributed to disrespect! But a far more serious trouble than this weighed upon my mind as my chair coolies jogged me along the winding streets and alleys to the palace grounds. I had been strictly warned not to say anything to the queen on the subject of religion. “We are only here on sufferance,” it was urged, “and even though our teaching the common people may be overlooked and winked at, if it is brought before the authorities so openly and boldly, as it would be to introduce it into the palace, even our warmest friends might feel obliged to utterly forbid further access to the royal family, if not to banish us altogether from the country.” “Wait,” it was said, “until our footing is more assured; do not risk all through impatience.” I saw the logic of these words, though my heart talked hotly in a very different way; but I went to the palace with my mouth sealed on the one subject I had come to proclaim. CHAPTER II The Palaces--The Stone Dogs--The Fire God’s Defeat--The Summer Pleasure House--Royal Reception Hall--Court Dress of Noblemen--First Impression of the King--Appearance of the Queen--The Queen’s Troubles--The Queen’s Coup d’état--The Verb Endings--The Queen’s Generosity--Stone Fight--Gifts--The Quaga--Poukhan--Its Impregnability--Picturesque Surroundings of Seoul--Pioneer Work--Progress of Work--The Queen’s Wedding Gift--Our Wedding--Opposition to my Going to the Interior--My Chair--The Chair Coolies.