Now, the theine has scarcely any colour, is very evanescent, and is extracted in a short time, whereas the tannin requires a longer steeping in boiling water, and gains its strength after the theine has gone.

Five minutes is the utmost limit that should be allowed for tea, and, for my part, I think that three minutes is quite enough.

So, within five minutes after the boiling water is poured on the tea, it should be drawn off into a heated jug, the teapot emptied of the leaves, washed out with boiling water, and the tea poured back again. If necessary, hot water may now be added, without detriment to the tea.

Lastly comes bad management in pouring out the tea. I have often been in houses where the lady fills the cups until the teapot is empty, and then replenishes it with hot water. Of course, all the theine goes into the first few cups, the rest getting nothing but tannin.

As to the shape, size, and material of the teapot, it is a matter of perfect indifference. Tea can be made quite as well in a jug as in a teapot. In this case it is as well to tie up the tea loosely in muslin, suspend it in the jug by a thread, and proceed as before. It will be as well to put among the tea a glass marble, such as is used in the game of solitaire, so as to sink it to the bottom of the jug, which of course should be covered closely as soon as the water has been poured into it.

Thus, by the exercise of a little common sense, and without the need even of a teapot, the cup that cheers can be obtained.

So pure and calm it was, so lacking Softly and reverently he says, 'God

EAR the site of the present town of Battle took place, in 1066, that great struggle between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans which historians have agreed to call the 'Battle of Hastings. Harold was the Anglo-Saxon chief, and Duke William of Normandy commanded the Normans. After many desperate struggles the foreigners prevailed; Harold was slain, and the Abbey of St. Martin, to commemorate the event, was erected on the spot where the Saxon standard was captured and Harold fell.

The Abbey remained such until the Dissolution, when it was conferred upon Sir Anthony Browne. A descendant of his, the fourth

Viscount Montague of Cowdray, sold it to Sir T. Webster, Bart., whose descendant, Sir G. Webster, Bart., sold it in 1857 to Lord Harry Vane, M.P., now Duke of Cleveland. It was Sir Anthony Browne who converted the Abbey buildings into a dwelling-house.

As originally constructed, the buildings seem to have been arranged so as to occupy four sides of a square. Three of these may still be traced, but it has been thought that the fourth was removed when the Abbey was converted into a residence, and in order to open up the view of the surrounding country from the remaining portions of the building. The Abbey precincts are entered from the town through a picturesque Decorated gateway, 35 ft. square and 54 ft. high, having three stages and two arches of unequal size, for carriages and foot-passengers respectively. This gateway consists of a square tower, with an octagonal turret at each angle, and a wing on each side, the east wing terminating with two somewhat similar turrets. The carriage archway is groined, and at the intersection of the groinings are two rudely-sculptured heads, which are supposed to represent William and Harold. Harold's head has a crown attached to it. Having entered the Abbey grounds there faces the visitor a range of low parallel walls, terminated at the end by two turrets. The space between these walls is now a terrace walk, but was originally the guest-chamber; below were sleeping apartments. These walls were strengthened by short buttresses; in the space between each is a small aperture which admitted light to each monk's cell. From this terrace the battle-field is visible, as also the sea and Beachey Head.

At right angles to this range of buildings, and fronting the south, is the part of the Abbey now inhabited, and the only part not in ruins. This consists of the entrance-hall, lofty and spacious, with an open roof and flamboyant windows. Opening out of the hall is a large room, having a double-vaulted roof supported by a range of three round centre pillars (the groins of which are richly gilt), and by beams resting on corbels. The arches remaining in this room are thought to have belonged to the cloisters, as are also nine elegant arches, now filled up, which are on the side of this part of the Abbey.

To the east of this part of the Abbey is the refectory, standing on elevated ground a little detached from the rest of the ruins. There were in its east wall twelve handsome Early English windows; in the south wall six such windows, and in the west wall eight. Underneath are three crypts or vaulted rooms, the use of which is unknown, though one has been called the scriptorium, or library.

Singular to say, of the kitchen, always a great feature of these establishments, not only are there no remains, but its very site is unknown. Probably it was pulled down for the sake of its materials; at any rate it is on record that, for some reason or other, it was pulled down in 1685 and following years.

From the refectory visitors are taken past some fine lime-trees and cedars, and along an ancient yew-tree walk, to view the ruins of the Abbey Church. These only consist of the fern-clad walls and piers of a crypt at the east end of the church, in which crypt were three chapels, the piscine and niches of which are preserved. The high altar stood on the spot where Harold fell; its shape was oval, and its foundations still remain.

BY HERBERT COURT STURGES, ASSISTANT-CHAPLAIN, BIARRITZ.

T may be interesting to those who have not had the opportunity of seeing religious customs other than their own to hear something about convent life, and the way in which those who enter upon it take the vows. In the neighbourhood of Biarritz, in the south-west of France, there are two large convents. One of these bears the name of 'Le Refuge,' the other is called 'Les Bernardines.' The Refuge opens its doors to any woman who desires to lead a strictly religious life, and who will take her share in the work of the convent. Its motto is a cross and a spade, and it supports itself for the most part by agriculture and horticulture. The Bernardines is a much stricter order, for in addition to the three vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty, which those who enter the Refuge take, the nuns who enter here take a vow of sllence, and never speak except in prayer or on urgent necessity to their priest and doctor. They are to be seen busy in their gardens, clad in a light grey cloak, with a large black cross worked upon the back. When a stranger approaches they draw the cowl over their faces. So strict are they in this respect, that on one occasion, when Napoleon III. wished to speak to one of the Bernardines while staying at Biarritz, although he obtained permission from the lady abbess, he found his efforts fruitless; for, on addressing the nun, the only answer he obtained was a sort of cry like that of a wounded animal. Again and again he repeated his question, but obtained no answer. length, being urged by the mother superior, the nun threw back her cowl, closed her eyes, and pointing upwards, uttered the one word, 'Ciel,' intimating that she had done with this world and only lived for Heaven.

At

The following description will enable the reader to understand how the religious vows are taken. On the Feast of the Epiphany, a friend informs me, he set out before dawn to be present at an important ceremony, when nearly fifty nuns were to take the vows before the Bishop of Bayonne. As the clock of the convent tower was striking eight, he found himself in a large chapel, strewn with bayleaves, and brilliantly illuminated with scores of wax candles. He was allowed to take his place in a recess, in which were seated the parents of the candidates. The nave was filed with nuns and those about to take the religious vows; the transepts were occupied by children under religious instruction. In a little while the Bishop entered, robed in gorgeous purple vestments, with a jewelled mitre on his head.

After he had knelt in prayer before the altar he put on the ordinary robes of a priest, and celebrated high mass. The candidates and some of their parents then received the Holy Communion, and afterwards listened attentively to the sermon which the Bishop preached upon the happiness of the 'religious life.' The Bishop then assumed his episcopal robes and seated himself in front of the altar, facing the congregation. As each candidate, clothed in white, presented herself, kneeling humbly before him, he said, 'My daughter, what do you