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Page 167
have to take off on that wild goose chase," but her expression was thoughtful, and a glimmer of light began to flicker in Linda's brain. Mrs. Sotheby and the generalwell, why not? He had lost his wife and was lonely. He was the kind of man who was accustomed to looking after people. Mrs. Sotheby was also alone; her children lived with her, but they might not mind having the place to themselves. And Mrs. Sotheby seemed to welcome being looked after.
Although Mrs. Bates was also alone, she was much older than Mrs. Sotheby. Aside from that, Mrs. Bates did not need to be protected and guided and would, in fact did, resent any efforts in that direction. Peter's efforts to care for his aunt certainly exasperated her.
The train of thought brought Linda's eyes to Mrs. Bates. She recognized clearly for the first time that her employer was a dominating woman. Linda looked down at her cup and lifted it. She was ready to swear that Mrs. Bates's feeling for General Barthemeles was no more than friendship, but she was not at all ready to swear Mrs. Bates would relish the idea that he could feel more than friendship for any other woman. There was nothing in Mrs. Bates's expression to indicate that Rose-Anne's behavior had any special meaning for her. Nonetheless, Linda was moved to look at her watch and remark that the cabs would be waiting in about fifteen minutes.
The reminder started enough movement to cover the awkward revelationif there had been

 
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