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breakdown by refusing one first-class hotel after another. She gave various excusesone was too modern, a second too noisy, a third too crowdedbut the true reason for her rejections was that her jet-set friends frequented those hotels. Eventually, dignified, old-fashioned places that Linda felt would not appeal to her crowd were found. Now all she had to worry about were chance meetings in shops or restaurants. |
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Linda gave an absent-minded "yes" to the General's question about another drink and considered expedients. "Do you think Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Sotheby will do much shopping in Paris?" she asked. |
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General Barthemeles's laugh boomed again. "I can assure you that Harriet will," he replied. "She has a list as long as your arm from Rose-Anne. And Emmeline hasn't been to Paris for yearsnot since poor Edward got sick." |
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"I hope I'll be able to get them into the shops early, before they get crowded," Linda said. |
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"Shouldn't think you'll have any trouble there. Old folk don't sleep all that long and, in a strange bed, I shouldn't think all that well. They'll be glad to be out early." |
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"And I hope to be able to convince Mrs. Bates to rest in the afternoon," Linda mused, half to herself. |
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"Yes, indeed," General Barthemeles agreed with rather surprising heartiness. "It would be an excellent idea for Emmeline to rest in the afternoon." |
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