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Page 140
had been made, showed herself not to be a ditherer. She did insist on checking everything with Linda, but once checked, she remembered.
Relaxed over a drinkalone this time but grateful to the general for initiating the customLinda had time to wonder why she felt that recognition by her friends would have been a disaster. First, was she ashamed of her position? That is, was she trying to hide what she was doing from her friends? A giggle escaped her as soon as she thought of it. She would love to tell them; love to see their horrified or uncomprehending faces. No, it wasn't that. Suddenly she felt bleak. She had realized that she didn't care what any of them thought; she didn't care if she never saw any of them again. In fact, she didn't have any friends.
Linda saw clearly that it was what she was doing that she was trying to protect. It was Mrs. Bates, not the friends of her past life, whom she didn't wish to shock. Yet now she felt much less anxiety about getting another job. She would do well, she thought, in a travel agency. Still . . . The thought of Peter intruded and Linda pushed it firmly out of her mind. Why should being fired by Mrs. Bates interfere with her relationship with Peter? Presumably it was not a heinous crime to be bored and believe doing an honest job would cure it, and being well off did not ordinarily cool a young man's pursuit. No, she could explain to Peter. It was something else.
The daiquiri Linda was sipping so slowly tasted delicious, yet she knew it was not as well

 
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