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Page 191
man who had followed her out the night before made his way toward the table.
When he arrived, he asked respectfully whether Linda would play paddle tennis with him after breakfast.
"I would love to, of course," Linda replied kindly and most untruthfully, "but I'm not free. I am employed by Mrs. Bates as her companion, and my time belongs to her."
Mrs. Bates looked up. Her face was quite sober, but her eyes were dancing with mischief. "Oh, Linda, you make me out an ogre. Of course you may play paddle tennis with Mr.er"
"Samson," the pale, thin youth supplied.
"Yes, with Mr. Samson," Mrs. Bates concluded.
Her voice did not even quiver, although it was a trace fainter than usual, but a choking gurgle came from one of the twins. Linda bit the inside of her lip painfully, and was able to reply with composure, "Thank you very much, Mrs. Bates. And thank you for asking me, Mr. Samson. I will meet you at the courts later, at about ten-thirty."
To the intense relief of the entire party, the young man took the hint and went off. A dead silence reigned until the door of the breakfast saloon closed behind him. Then the laughter all had been choking back burst out. The general was the first to recover.
"Rolled up," he chortled, wiping his eyes. "Linda, you were rolled uphorse, foot, and guns. That will teach you to try to use Emmeline

 
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