DISTANT HOMES; OR THE GRAHAM FAMILY IN NEW ZEALAND. CHAPTER I. First Announcement of the Parents' Intention of Emigrating-The Projected Voyage-Tom's Opinion-Lucy and Beatrice-Lucy's Cowardice. LUCY GRAHAM was working very hard at a number of fancy bags and baskets, evidently intended for a Christmas tree, when her brother George entered the room. "Mamma wants you, Loo; go to her dressing-room, and then back to me. Look sharp like a good girl, I want you very much." "All serene, Master," exclaimed his sister. "Miss Graham, where did you learn such a vulgar expression?" cried the governess, who happened to be passing, and stood in the doorway, looking the very picture of outraged propriety. "From Papa," was Lucy's answer, as she ran past the horror-stricken lady, and looking back made a face, for George's edification; he, however, was hunting through a large Atlas, and lost this exhibition of his sister's wit. An B hour elapsed; at first it went very slowly, but getting interested in a book he was comparing with the map, the boy did not notice the length of time, nor did he hear his sister return, which she did very softly and with a very much altered countenance. Stealing up to George, she put her arms round his neck, and whispered. “What is it all for, Georgy? Why need we go so far away? You're looking at the map, please tell me everything, dear. Mamma was crying so, Papa sent me away." "Poor Mamma!" said George. "You see, Lucy, Mamma thinks it is her blame, for it was all her fortune that was in the bank when it broke, and the people claimed so much money, Papa was obliged to sell all he could." "He never told me," exclaimed Lucy, looking angry. "You were at school you know; but let me go on; well, it might not have been so bad after all, but old Mr. Crossly had lost his money too it seems; and when he died the other day, Mamma only got £2,000, so they have decided to sell this house and go to New Zealand." "But, are not you going," asked Lucy, remarking her brother said "they." "No dear, not yet. I am to stay at college all next year, and when I've taken my degree, I'll follow.” "Oh, George! what use is there in taking a degree to go out and settle among savages; surely, you don't really mean it. Papa never said anything, except that I was to practise as hard as I could; I should like to know what use it is. Who ever heard of pianos in New Zealand." Her brother smiled, but kept a little lecture he just then thought of for another time, merely saying "he would bring a piano out with him." THE PROJECTED VOYAGE. 3 "Let me see the place we are going to George, oh! what is the name?" "The Canterbury Settlement." "Ah, that will sound almost like home; only think of there being a Canterbury among the savages; I wonder if there's a bishop and a cathedral?" "Of course there is, Miss Wisdom;" exclaimed a loud voice. The speaker, a boy of fourteen, and just a year older than Lucy, was flattening his nose against the window, having much to his own delight accomplished the feat of sitting cross-legged upon the narrow stone ledge outside; "of course there is, Miss Wisdom, and Cannibals too. "Hoky, Poky, Wankum Wun, How do you like your enemy done, "You'll sing a different tune if you don't look out," said George, laughing, "and that will be "Roley Poley sat on a wall, Roley Poley got a great fall, Three score men, and double three score, Lucy rushed to the window just in time to see Tom turn a summersault off the ledge, and after standing upon his head on the grass for a second or two, finished off his performance by a clever imitation of a clown he had seen at Astley's. Lucy laughed, and clapped her hands with delight, for Tom was her favourite; and as they only met during the holidays, they were, when together, nick-named, "The Siamese Twins." Tom having performed long enough to satisfy himself, |