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The Brownsβ house at number thirty-two Windsor Gardens was unusually quiet. It was a warm summer day, and all the family, with the exception of Paddington, who had mysteriously disappeared shortly after lunch, were sitting on the veranda enjoying the afternoon sun. Apart from the faint rustle of paper as Mr. Brown turned the pages of an enormous book and the click of Mrs. Brownβs knitting needles, the only sound came from Mrs. Bird, their housekeeper, as she prepared the tea things.
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