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Page 255
tensed, Linda said quickly, "You see, I can'tI'm in love with someone else."
"Oh," he said blankly.
For a second or two Linda wondered whether Rose-Anne knew her brother as well as she thought she did, but very soon Donald uttered a long sigh and a relieved and beatific smile covered his face. The sullenness that had seemed to underlie his expression, even when he was laughing, momentarily disappeared. Apparently, Donald's conscience had been pricking him more than Rose-Anne realized. In any case, the whole story tumbled out of him and his apology for "using" Linda was full and fervent.
"That's all right." She laughed, and then decided that in view of his own need for secrecy it was unlikely that Donald would spill the beans about her. "Look," she said, "we can go on playing this game if you like, but I have to tell Peter. He's getting jealous.''
"I had noticed," Donald remarked drily. "In fact, I've been wondering whether he was going to murder me. That, among other things, has given me second thoughts about the whole idea. Rose-Anne didn't like it, and if she criticizes something I do, it has to be really off. But if you don't mindand if you can get Peter to stop glaring at mesure, tell him about Diane. He's a lucky man, Linda. You're quite a girl."
In an excess of good feeling, they kissed. Then Linda pulled away, looked at the sun, and gasped. "I've got to get back to the house. There's the table to check, and I've got to see

 
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