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Page 65
of the mind, Linda realized what nonsense she had been thinking. Gertrude wasn't the type and wasn't the age for having affairs. Besides, now that she thought back on it, Linda had heard a few words clearly, and they weren't that kind of words. The partial sentences came back to her: ''. . . she knows or not. Call me immediately if she . . ." That was it, as far as Linda could remember. No, not quite. There was somethingnot something that was said, something about how it was said. The voice had belonged to an educated man or, at least, he didn't have a common accent like Gertrude's.
Back in her own room, Linda tried to put the whole thing out of her mind. It was ridiculous, almost crazy, to associate a few words with a shadow on the landing. "I'm really letting my imagination run away with me," Linda muttered into her pillow. That's what came of being bored; one looked for trouble. One certainty was that Gertrude wouldn't do anything to hurt Mrs. Bates. She had been with her a long time, and it would be virtually impossible for the maid to find another job that would suit her as well. Probably at her age it would be difficult to find any other job at all. Still, Linda wished she had not been so honorable. If she had heard a few words more, all her doubts might have been resolved.
And if they hadn't been? What if the end of the sentence had been"No!" Linda actually said that aloud, then muttered more softly, "I will not talk myself into a situation that doesn't

 
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