between the two races from whence we had sprung, but true love is no respecter of persons or nationalities, and in this instance it was abundantly evident that a reciprocal affection had arisen in our hearts.

During the conversation that followed I had a good opportunity of observing the face and figure of Loo A-Lee. In the north of China, where the winter is rigorous, both males and females have a much fairer complexion than those in the south, and many women and children have naturally rosy cheeks. In these respects she had a complexion as fair as the ordinary run of her sisters in England. Neither were her eyes so acute in the angle of the eyelids as we see Chinese eyes generally represented-which is, however, considered a mark of beauty in China. She had exquisitely arched eyebrows, and her hair was softer and not so jet black as usual. Her hands were delicately small, and her feet were of the natural size, not having been bandaged into a stump. She was tall, and graceful in her movements, and would have appeared the belle of an English drawing

room.

I told her that the An-ting gate was in possession of the Allies, but no person was allowed to go in or out, until the ambassadors had negotiated terms of peace with the government. This would probably happen in a few days, when I would visit the convent again and escort her into the city, obtaining a pass for her safe conduct through the camp. She thanked me for this offer, and said she would be ready at any time to leave.

As so good an opportunity might not have occurred. again of seeing the interior of a Chinese nunnery, I asked the abbess to show me through it, and to explain the regulations of the order. She assented, and frankly told me all

DUTIES OF CHINESE NUNS.

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about the institution and its government, which is by no means so strict as those of Romish convents. The candidates are not admitted into full orders until they attain the age of sixteen. Prior to this, and from the commencement of their ascetic life, they assume the garb peculiar to the sisterhood. The chief apparent distinction between the novices and those in full orders, is that the heads of the latter are wholly shaven, while the former have only the front part of the crown shaven. The younger nuns have plaited queues flowing down behind. The nuns mostly had large feet, clumsy shoes, long stockings and garters, full trousers, short jackets, and wide sleeves, with bald pates and skull-caps, precisely as the priests have. But the priestesses had smoother countenances, softer looks, sweeter voices, and were more tidy.

When the young woman has bared, or shaved her head -a sign of making religious vows very different from that of "taking the veil" adopted in the nunneries of Europeshe is required to live a life of devotion and mortification. She must eat and drink sparingly, and her diet must consist of vegetables only. Strong meats and drinks are to be avoided as poison. The business and cares of this world are not to engross her attention. She has retired from it, and must be fitting herself for eternal canonisation. Nothing should occupy her thoughts or engage her affections but the service of the temple in the precincts of which she lives. Daily exercises are to be conducted by her, the furniture of the small sanctuary that forms a part of the convent must be looked after and kept clean and orderly; those women or men who come to worship at the altars, and seek guidance or comfort, must be cared for and assisted. When there is leisure the sick and the poor are

to be visited, and all who have placed themselves under her special direction and spiritual instruction have a large claim upon her regard. That she may live the life of seclusion and self-denial she must vow perpetual maidenhood; the thought of marriage should never enter her head, and the society of men must be shunned.

As far as I could see these rigid rules were not seriously complied with, and there appeared no great amount of devotion at their religious exercises, especially among the novices. Their sacred books consisted of many volumes, printed in large text on fine paper. For these they had a profound respect. The rapidity with which the pages and sections of the books were hurried off at their religious exercises was amazing. Both the young and the old nuns seemed equally expert at their recitations, but there was nothing of a devotional spirit about them; their demeanour was anything but devout. I was shocked to see the levity of the juvenile nuns in paying religious homage to the goddess Kwan-yin; they were as merry and tricky, as flirting and frolicsome, as any party of girls met to keep the birthday of one of their schoolmates.

Before leaving the nunnery I bade Loo A-Lee an affectionate good-bye, to which she made a gentle response; so that I wended on my way to the camp with a beating heart, but full of pleasant emotions.

Burial of the murdered victims.-Triumphal Entry of the Allied Forces into Peking.-Signing the Treaty and Convention at the Hall of Ceremonies.-The Prince of Kung.-Lord Elgin declines his invitation to dinner for fear of poison.

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EANWHILE a solemn act was performed by the British and French Ambassadors in consigning the remains of their murdered countrymen and faithful Indian troopers to the tomb. The Russian Embassy at Peking had given permission in the kindest manner that their burial ground should be used for the interment of those unfortunate victims of Chinese treachery and barbarity. The French had no need to accept the Russians' offer. An old Roman Catholic cemetery, constructed when the Jesuits were at the height of their power in Peking, some centuries back, lay within the west wall, and to the plot of earth within its precincts they consigned their dead. The bodies of the Sikhs were handed over to their comrades, and were by them burnt to ashes, as is their custom.

The Russian burial-ground is outside the north wall of the city, about a quarter of a mile from it. The funeral was an impressive sight. Lord Elgin and Sir Hope Grant were the chief mourners. Every one made a point of attending, as it was a gratification to the feelings of all to show the

last tribute of respect to the memory of the departed, and to mark their sympathy with the cruel fate which had carried them away in the midst of a career of usefulness and honour; nor was there less sympathy for the private soldier than for his superior.

“What mysterious purpose was answered by the sacrifice of so many valuable lives," remarked the Rev. Mr. McGhee, Chaplain of the British Forces, "and so much misery both to the sufferers and those left behind, can only be known to that wise and merciful Power which rules the affairs of men, and without whom 'a sparrow does not fall to the ground.' We may be sure that some dire necessity existed which was not to be averted, or the God of mercy would not have permitted his servants to fall into the hands of such wretches."

That clergyman read the funeral service, as principal chaplain, and the priest of the Russian church having requested him to be permitted to take part in the service, bore the cross, the emblem of the faith of Christ, at the graves, while the service was being read. When that was over he was glad to say, "that the friends of those whose fate it has been to take their last earthly rest here, may feel secure that the remains of those whom they loved, and still love, will rest in peace till that great day when earth and sea shall alike yield up the dead that they have hidden, at the voice of Him who has 'redeemed us and washed us in His blood,' when time shall be no more. May we meet them in peace through Him who has made peace by the blood of the Cross."" A universal response of "Amen" was murmured by that warlike throng, and many a stern warrior's eyes glistened with tears at the close of the service.

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Winter was fast drawing on; each morning was ushered