I never do , and Harmer has to blue-pencil my copy mercilessly . Well , I 'll do my best with this , as it 's very necessary I should get the permanency , for I fear our family purse is growing very slim . Mother 's face has a new wrinkle of worry every day . It hurts me to see it . '' `` And me , '' sighed Patty . `` I do wish I could find something to do too . If only we both could get positions , everything would be all right . Mother would n't have to worry so . Do n't say anything about this chance to her until you see what comes of it . She 'd only be doubly disappointed if nothing did . What is your other assignment ? '' `` Oh , I 've got to go out to Bancroft on the morning train and write up old Mr. Moreland 's birthday celebration . He is a hundred years old , and there 's going to be a presentation and speeches and that sort of thing . Nothing very exciting about it . I 'll have to come back on the three o'clock train and hurry out to catch my politician before he leaves at five . Take a stroll down to meet my train , Patty . We can go out as far as Mr. Reid 's house together , and the walk will do you good . '' The Baxters lived in Aylmer , a lively little town with two newspapers , the Chronicle and the Ledger . Between these two was a sharp journalistic rivalry in the matter of `` beats '' and `` scoops . '' In the preceding spring Clifford had been taken on the Chronicle on trial , as a sort of general handyman .
There was no pay attached XXXXX the position , but he was getting training and there was the possibility of a permanency in September if he proved his mettle .
Between as at before for if of on to with