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old. I find that the weather affects me. And Peter at lunchmy digestion is not what it used to be." |
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"Yes," Linda agreed, grinning in spite of herself. "Who wants a tornado as a luncheon guest." |
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"I guess that may be an American phenomenon. It's a very strong wind that turns around and around and causes terrible damage, even when it stays in the same place." |
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"Oh, dear," Mrs. Bates chuckled guiltily. "Oh, dear, that does sound like Peter, doesn't it? Oh, I'm a wicked woman. I shouldn't laugh and I shouldn't let you say things like that. Peter is a very good boy, and he means to be kind." |
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"But that isn't a bad thing to say about a person," Linda protested. "At least, I certainly didn't mean it that way. It would be shockingly improper of me to criticize your nephew. I only meant it as a description of himas if I were saying that he has brown hair and grey eyes. Some people have personalities that relax other people, others don't affect people at all, and still others have an enlivening effect." |
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Surprisingly, Mrs. Bates made no direct reply to Linda's explanation. Instead she said she would take a little ham and a little pâté. Linda did not consider reopening a subject her employer had closed, but she felt it odd that Mrs. Bates, whose sense of humor seemed quite keen, had taken her light remark so seriously. She asked whether it would be all right |
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