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Page 92
box . . . Oh, I do feel funny."
"What do you meanfunny?" Gertrude asked, moving closer.
Gert blinked her eyes exaggeratedly, as if the lids were too heavy to move easily, shook her head, and half rose, her lips parted as if she intended to reply but could not. She never made it to her feet, but toppled slowly sideways. Had not Gertrude caught her, she would have fallen heavily. Linda leapt to help, and together they supported the girl into Gertrude's room and laid her on the bed.
Gertrude shut the door before asking, "What happened?"
"I don't know," Linda replied, eyes wide with shock. "Mrs. Bates told me to fetch you, and I did. I asked Gert's name and offered her some candy. When she finished washing up, she sat down at the table and ate a couple of pieces of the candy while we talked. Up till then she was fine. She didn't say a word about feeling sick. Oh, Gertrude, let's call her doctor. Does she faint often?"
"She never fainted in her life that I know of." Gertrude herself was white. "She was bright enough when she came inand she would have told me quick enough if she didn't feel good. She's a good girl, but not one to do more than she has to. I don't even know who her doctor isand he wouldn't come here, anyway. It's right out of his territory."
"Then let's call Mrs. Bates's doctor. We must call someone."

 
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