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Page 242
"That's very interesting." Mrs. Bates smiled affectionately at Linda. "Whatever it is, I must have the opposite. I spend every minute I can out here." She sat down as she spoke in a chair facing out toward the bay. "Well, now, you children run away and play. I just wanted to show you my favorite spot, Linda."
"Can I bring you something from the house, Mrs. Bates?" Linda asked.
"No, dear. I have a bell." She showed Linda a button fixed to one of the columns not far from her seat. "It rings in the kitchen and Yani or one of the maids will come."
Having seen the bell, Linda immediately spotted the wire that ran up outside the column and discreetly across to a tree. It was quite clear that Mrs. Bates wanted to be alone, and she seemed so normal that Linda made no protest. Instead of following Donald directly to the beach, however, she said she would like a swim and must fetch her suit. Donald thought the idea an excellent one and accompanied her back to the house. On the way, Linda remarked that she had to have a word with Gertrude, and he obligingly showed her Mrs. Bates's suite off the so-called breakfast room. This was on the ground floor, a self-contained group of two bedrooms, a private sitting room, and a bath. One of the bedrooms was Mrs. Bates's. In the other Linda found Gertrude.
The maid was busy unpacking, but when Linda said that Mrs. Bates was alone in the gazebo and had not wanted company, Gertrude

 
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