There was an appearance of peace and prosperity about it . If only Miss Salome Whitney will hire me ! thought Chester wistfully , as he crept up the slope . I 'm afraid she 'll say I 'm too small . Wisht I could stretch three inches all at once . Wisht I was n't so dizzy . Wisht -- What Chester 's third wish was will never be known , for just as he reached the kitchen door the worst dizzy spell of all came on . Trees , barns , well-sweep , all whirled around him with the speed of wind . He reeled and fell , a limp , helpless little body , on Miss Salome Whitney 's broad , spotless sandstone doorstep . * * * * * In the Mount Hope kitchen Miss Salome was at that moment deep in discussion with her `` help '' over the weighty question of how the damsons were to be preserved . Miss Salome wanted them boiled ; Clemantiny Bosworth , the help , insisted that they ought to be baked . Clemantiny was always very positive . She had `` bossed '' Miss Salome for years , and both knew that in the end the damsons would be baked , but the argument had to be carried out for dignity 's sake . `` They 're so sour when they 're baked , '' protested Miss Salome . `` Well , you do n't want damsons sweet , do you ? '' retorted Clemantiny scornfully . `` That 's the beauty of damsons -- their tartness . And they keep ever so much better baked , Salome -- you know they do . My grandmother always baked hers , and they would keep for three years . '' Miss Salome knew that when Clemantiny dragged her grandmother into the question , it was time to surrender .
Beyond that , dignity degenerated XXXXX stubbornness .
In as at for into of on that to with