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Page 74
"Of course, Emmeline, I see that, but you never said anything to me about wanting a companion. You aren't feeling ill, are you?"
"I'm afraid not, Harriet. I feel very well indeed."
Linda was barely able to restrain a smile at the amused malice of Mrs. Bates's reply. She did feel, however, that Mrs. Sotheby could have been more tactfulor was it only the seed of doubt that Gertrude had planted in her mind that made her feel Mrs. Sotheby's question was tactless? After all, a concerned sister-in-law might ask about Mrs. Bates's health.
"I'm glad to hear it," Mrs. Sotheby said, somewhat defensively, "but what made you decide you needed someone so suddenly?"
"It wasn't sudden at all. I don't always tell everyone what I'm thinking about. Actually, I had been realizing how much of Peter's time I was taking up. Between stepping in at least once a day to make sure I wasn't lonely and driving me here and there as well as doing the errandsyou know Gertrude isn't getting any younger either, and I can't have her running about the way I used topoor Peter had hardly a moment to himself."
"Well, I'm sure Rose-Anne or Donald would have been happy to stop in, drive you, or run errands if Peter found it too much for him," Mrs. Sotheby protested.
"Peter didn't find it too much." Mrs. Bates laughed. "I did! And I'm sureconsidering the group with whom they associatethat I would

 
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