act of its being three inches too narrow was counterbalanced by
its being six inches too long.

CHAPTER TEN.

A FRIEND IN NEED.

"Look here, my love," said plump little Mr Gambart to his plump little
wife, bustling into the parlour with an open letter in his hand, "isn't
this vexatious! Just listen--it's from McLeod:--

"`My dear Gambart,--I take the opportunity of Jonas Bellew leaving me
to write a line in reply to your last, which was brought on to me by
the Indian. You will be sorry to learn that the _Betsy_ of Plymouth,
in which all my goods were embarked, is lying here a total wreck, and
the goods have been washed out of her--not a bale or cask saved! But,
worse than that, poor Roderick has been badly injured in getting
ashore, and now lies here unable to move. Many of the poor fellows
who composed the crew have been lost, and those saved are in a sad
condition. I was sorry to hear of Loch Dhu being sold, but now that
my fortunes have been so utterly and literally wrecked it is perhaps
as well as it is. I'm sorry, however, that you bought Barker's Mill
for me. In the circumstances I will find it difficult to repay you
for a long time to come.'

"Now," said Gambart, "isn't this vexing? I thought it would please him
so much, for of course he knows that I would never press him for the
money."

"Did you tell him," asked Mrs Gambart, "that in the event of his not
wanting the mill you would gladly take it yourself?"

"No, I didn't think that necessary."

"Didn't I," continued the little lady, pursing her little mouth, "didn't
I advise you to do so at the time?"

"You certainly did, my dear."

"And did I not," continued Mrs Gambart, severely, "advise you, further,
_not_ to keep Mr Redding in ignorance as to who was the late owner of
Loch Dhu, for fear of mischief coming of it?"

"Yes, my love," answered Gambart, with ever-increasing humility, "but no
mischief _has_ come of it apparently, and I thought--"

"Oh yes," interrupted his lady, "I know you _thought_. You always think
when you shouldn't, and you never think when you should."

In his heart the little man repelled this accusation, but thought it
best in the circumstances to hold his tongue. After a moment or two the
lady went on:--

"Besides, you don't know that no mischief has come of it. Take my
advice now. Write immediately to Mr McLeod, telling him that you only
ventured to buy the mill for him because