At age 18, she began to act in plays in a travelling theatrical company which was run by her future husband, George Crichton Miln.

[2] After her father died, Miln came in to some income from his estate which allowed them to travel around Asia where they also performed in plays.

Moving through Asia, they continued to perform in Calcutta, Rangoon, Singapore, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

These performances were the first full-text Shakespeare productions staged in Japan and were influential in the modern development of Japanese theatre.

[4] Stematz had married the Japanese Minister of War by the time of Miln’s visit and had become the Countess Sutematsu Oyama.

[5] In 1896, they moved to London, England where they bought a monthly periodical called The British Realm, which George edited.

The novel focuses on ancient traditions and the vengeance that, seemingly, must follow the clandestine relationship between a Chinese mandarin's daughter and her young American lover.

Captain Anthony Crespin brings his beautiful young bride Lucilla there to continue his military service.

[2] Mr. & Mrs. Sên explores the difficulties a British woman and Chinese man face when they fall in love in Washington D.C. After visiting China together, they decide to make their home in England.