HOME AT THE HAVEN.

companion, who by no means despised many of the
plays that Edward could now never be persuaded to
play at; and besides that, was a capital hand at invent-
ing games of the quiet kind that Lucy was so
particularly fond of.
 From the very morning on which the invitation
came from Captain Osborne, preparations were began
for leaving London. Mrs. Osborne wrote to accept
most gratefully the proposed shelter for herself and
children, and she undertook to do her best to make
her brother-in-law comfortable, promising also for her
children that they would behave well, and not disturb
him in any way. She ended her letter by fixing to be
at the Haven in a fortnight's time.
 That fortnight was soon over. The packing time
was one of great bustle, and the most beautiful spring
weather seemed to make a journey into the country the
pleasantest thing in the world; and even leave-taking
of old friends did not seem so painful as they had all
expected, for every one was so kind, and so glad that
the scheme of going out to New Zealand had been
given up. One pleasure, too, which Lucy enjoyed, then
occupied her thoughts for nearly a whole week, and
this was the choice of a parting keepsake for her friend
Grace Martin. Out of her own savings she bought
the prettiest of work-boxes imaginable, and with her
mother's assistance fitted it up with all kinds of useful
little nick-nacks and materials, such as a clever little
workwoman like Grace is sure to require.
 Edward enjoyed most of all the final packing up and
nailing down of boxes, and cording of trunks, for then
he could be of help, and as busy as any one. For a
whole day he went about hammer in hand, from one
room to another, and used up an innumerable quantity
of nails and tacks to his great satisfaction, and no one