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Page 75
not have found Donald's or Rose-Anne's driving any more soothing than Peter's."
"What group, Emmeline?"
Linda was startled at the viciousness of Mrs. Sotheby's voice. She had not realized that the twittering little bird could turn so fierce. There was more steel in Mrs. Sotheby than one would expect, and she could strike like a hawk in defense of her chicks.
"Now, Harriet, I was not accusing Donald or Rose-Anne of consorting with evil companions," Mrs. Bates teased. "All I meant was that people in the entertainment business do have a tendency to fast cars and hard liquor."
"What do Rose-Anne and Donald do?" Linda asked brightly, seeing Mrs. Sotheby flush and bridle with offense. Linda was getting tired of all the family friction.
"They work for BBC television," General Barthemeles put in loudly, his voice drowning Mrs. Sotheby's rejoinder. His eyes twinkled, and he shook his head slightly at Mrs. Bates, adding warningly, "Now, Emmeline"
"How fascinating!" Linda exclaimed with spurious enthusiasm.
The truth was that she was nauseatingly familiar with the minor celebrities of stage, screen, and television, who were frequent guests and lions of the not-quite-jet-set to which she belonged. Even as she said the words, however, she felt surprised because Rose-Anne and Donald didn't seem to fit. Their affectations were different. If they had

 
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