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Page 82
The lunch, lavish as any full-scale dinner, was extended. As Gertrude and her niece cleared the table, the animated conversation died down. Mrs. Bates smiled down the table.
"Children," she said in her high, sweet voice, "I have a delightful bit of news. The general has at last consented to come to Corfu with me. So, since Harriet always spends some time there, I thought how nice it would be if we could all travel together."
"Oh, for God's sake, Aunt Em," Peter exclaimed, "you won't fly. How are you going to get bookings on a ship to Corfu for fivelet alone eightat the height of the season?"
"By not going at the height of the season," Mrs. Bates said with a mischievious smile, "and by taking the train to Italy and a ship from there."
"But Aunt Em"
Peter gestured impatiently and the cream pitcher careened across the table, spraying droplets over a tray of cakes and the cloth before it hit Linda's cup. Fortunately, this was still empty. By adroit juggling, Linda managed to save the cup, the creamer, and even most of the cream. With an heroic effort, she did not laugh. Instead, she reached for the teapot as if nothing at all had happened, poured a cup for herself, and, having mopped a few drops of cream from the tray, replaced everything and passed the tray along to Donald on her other side, where presumably it would be safe.

 
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