- THE INSPECTION. 45

Before Robert got back from the shop, the in-
spection party had gone up a back stairway
which led into a kind of garret, over the kitchen
part of the house. Here there were a great many
boxes and trunks, all, however, in good order.
There was a large shelf at one end, with a great
many herbs in bundles. Then they all went
through a narrow door into another garret over the
main body of the house; and thence they came
down the front stairs. They found that the door at
the foot of the stairs would not shut very well;
and the General, after looking at it a moment, said
that the latch was out of order. °

“ Yes, sir,” said Ellen, “and I wish you would
mend it, for it troubles me every time I want to
come up stairs.”

“Have you got a file among your tools,
Robert?” said the General.

“Yes, sir,” said Robert ; for Robert had come
back, before this time, from the shop, and was fol-
lowing them with his box of tools.

The General took out the file, and also the
hammer. First he filed the iron of the latch a
little ; then he hammered it a little, and thus very
soon put it in good order.

Ellen said that she was very glad.