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Mrs. Bates arrived while she was still trying to press the last of the damp from the rug. As soon as Gertrude opened the door, she began to explain what had happened, and Linda had a new problem. She did not wish to tell Mrs. Bates the subject of her conversation with Peter. In her opinion, the fewer reminders a person had of a heart condition, the better it was. But she did not wish to lie either, and there had to be some reason for Peter to shout at her. |
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Still racking her brains for an explanation that would not cast Peter in a bad lightwhich would be most unfair when he only meant wellLinda heard Gertrude following her employer down the corridor, still explaining. |
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"I had a feeling, madam. It's just lucky I had a feeling. I started to take out the Crown Derby and then, all of a sudden, I had a feeling and put them back. Mr. Peter will never notice, I said to myself, and Miss Linda won't care. So it was only that new set that I use for the kitchenthank God for that. I can get others from the store. They always have those. Thank God it wasn't the Crown Derby. And Miss Linda was so quick with the cloth and the cold water that I don't think the rug will be marked. Oh, madam, I'm still all of a twitter." |
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Linda stood up. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Bates," she said. "Perhaps I shouldn't have asked whether Mr. Tattersall would like a cup of coffee, but I never guessed" |
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