above the din and roar of the gates in heavy clouds is to-day
seemingly absent. Even our Peking dust is awed by the approaching
storm and nestles close to Mother Earth, so that it may come to no
harm.

The more I looked the more observant I became. The sun lolling up in a
red ball, the birds, twittering and flying about while the heat of the
day is not severe, showed themselves in a new light; and thus the 20th
June is ushered in so complaisantly, when all the world of men appear
merely tired and watchful, that the contrast makes one wonder, and at
nine o'clock once more our Ministers Plenipotentiary and our _Charges
d'Affaires_ gather their eleven estimable persons together at the
Legation of the _doyen_. For yesterday's Ministerial reply agreeing to
the Manchu order to vacate the capital, if certain conditions were
fulfilled, had begged for an urgent answer by nine o'clock regarding
the little counter-demands for a time-extension, and a definite
arrangement concerning the Chinese troops who are to be the safe
conduct along the Tientsin road. Nine o'clock has come, but alas! with
it there is no neat Chinese despatch on striped paper which would so
relieve our Ministerial feelings. The Chinese Government remains
grimly silent, for the Chinese Government has spoken plainly once, and
never within the memory of man has it done so on two consecutive
occasions. So the eleven Ministers meet once more in anything but a
happy frame of mind--eleven sorely tried and wholly fearful persons,
except for two or three who vainly try to instill some courage into
the others. All idea of completing the packing commenced last night
has vanished; even that would demand action and resolution. A proposal
to visit the Tsung-li Yamen in a body is set aside with nervous
protestations once more. The meeting thereupon became very stormy, and
the French Minister was kind enough to report afterwards that the