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But Peter didn't seem to be listening. He was staring at Linda's hand, which he still held. Quite suddenly, he got up and put his arm around her. She could feel that he was trembling very slightly. |
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''It isn't a joke," he said, his voice now tight and strained. "A person who's crazy enough to take a chance like thatWhat if you were a greedy little thing and did eat the whole box at once? Will the fact that this didn't workhowever it was meant to workincrease the pressure? Will . . ." He hesitated and then went on in a rush. "Will the person take crazier and crazier chances? And one of them might hurt you, Linda. You'd better quit." |
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"No!" Gertrude and Linda exclaimed simultaneously. |
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Linda said no more and bit her lip. She couldn't offer the general's reasonthat Peter would be endangered if she left her joband she couldn't think of another really good reason to stay. Fortunately, Gertrude had one all ready. |
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"You can't quit, Miss Linda, you can't. I'll watch out for you. I swear it. You won't eat anything that doesn't come direct from my hand, and I won't let you be alone with any of them. I'll watch. Madam has taken to you so much. She hasn't been so bright and cheerful sincefor a long time. If you quit, she'll fret and fret over it, worrying about what she did to make you go. Mr. Peter, |
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