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Page 89
brings me candy. They all think I would be foolish enough to cheat." A mischievious smile flitted across her face. "Perhaps I would, if I was really mad about sweets. I do cheat about teaa little. I'm not nearly as decrepit as my familyah, fears."
Linda had lifted the box and she stood with it in her hands, momentarily paralyzed by the implication in Mrs. Bates's tone that she believed her family was waiting eagerly for her death. What could one say about such an idea? Peter seemed sincerely solicitousperhaps oversolicitous? But there had been that shadow on the stair landing. . . . And Linda really did not know Rose-Anne and Donald.
"Now, now, child, it's nothing for you to worry about," Mrs. Bates said calmly, even with a touch of amusement, as if at a private joke. "Why don't you take the candy? It can't do you any harm. Will you ask Gertrude to come and help me undress? I'll rest a while now. Later, perhaps, I'll ask you to read to me."
Relieved at not having to participate in a conversation on so delicate a subject, Linda hurried to the kitchen. It wasn't until Gertrude had left to attend to Mrs. Bates and her young niece's eyes fixed on the fancy candy box that Linda realized she was still carrying it. Her immediate reaction was to offer the whole thing to the girl, but then she felt Mrs. Bates might be offended by that. She put the box on the table.
"Would you like some?" Linda asked. "Mrs.

 
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