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simply do not wish to go into service any more." |
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"And quite right of them, too," General Barthemeles boomed. "Nasty, restricted life they used to have, poor things. They're better off in the offices and factories." |
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"Oh, do you really think so?" Mrs. Sotheby twittered. "Surely those jobs are so noisy and dirty andand unprotected. And the employers. . . I read such things in the papersshocking! They were so much safer in a real home." |
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"Were they?" The general laughed. "Some employers were pretty nasty in those homes too." He cocked an eye at Linda. "But I must say, I can't help bein' surprised at a bright young gel like you takin' on this kind of work.'' |
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"But Mrs. Bates is so kind to me," Linda protested, widening her eyes. "How can you think of her as a nasty employer." |
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"Didn't think any such thing," the general sputtered, then began to laugh as he realized that Linda was teasing him. "Naughty, saucy thing to take me up like that. I was just thinkin' that most gels like you don't even look at advertisements for companions. Ministers' daughtersdowdy, mousey thingslook at 'em." |
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Before Linda could answer quite truthfully that she had noticed the ad purely by accident, Mrs. Bates said, "Now, Harriet, you can see why I was so happy to find Linda. She's young enough to laugh and to make me laugh, too. And she doesn't sigh lugubriously when I ask her to do an errand that means running up and down stairs." |
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