Clemantiny swept out through the porch and jerked open the door . There was a moment 's silence . Then Miss Salome heard her say , `` For the land 's sake ! Salome Whitney , come here . '' What Miss Salome saw when she hurried out was a white-faced boy stretched on the doorstep at Clemantiny 's feet . `` Is he dead ? '' she gasped . `` Dead ? No , '' sniffed Clemantiny . `` He 's fainted , that 's what he is . Where on earth did he come from ? He ai n't a Hopedale boy . '' `` He must be carried right in , '' exclaimed Miss Salome in distress . `` Why , he may die there . He must be very ill . '' `` Looks more to me as if he had fainted from sheer starvation , '' returned Clemantiny brusquely as she picked him up in her lean , muscular arms . `` Why , he 's skin and bone . He ai n't hardly heavier than a baby . Well , this is a mysterious piece of work . Where 'll I put him ? ''
`` Lay him on the sofa , '' said XXXXX Salome as soon as she had recovered from the horror into which Clemantiny 's starvation dictum had thrown her .
Dead Miss bone boy distress door doorstep feet land moment