Of late he quite frequently spends the end of the week
out here, sir. Of course he is deeply interested in the prosperity of
the estate."
"As the guardian of Miss Natalie, you mean?"
"Just so, sir."
"How long have you been here, Sexton?"
"Sixteen years, sir."
"You knew Miss Natalie's father then, and must enjoy the place to
remain so long?"
"It has been very pleasant, sir, until the last month or so,"
regretfully, yet evidently glad of the opportunity to talk, lingering
with one hand on the knob of the door. "Since then things haven't been
just the same."
"In what way?"
"Well, I don't exactly know, sir. Miss Natalie seems to change her mind,
an' we never can please her. That's the trouble mostly. Last night I
waited up until you all went to bed, an' then locked the house, the way
she told me to. But that didn't suit her at all, for she stopped me on
the stairs, an' made me go back an' leave the side door unlocked--just
said she'd attend to that herself."
"Miss Natalie told you? You are sure, Sexton?"
"Oh, it was her, sir; there was a light burning in the hall, an' she was
all dressed up as though she was goin' out. 'Taint the first time,
either. I ain't got no right to say anything, but it puzzles me what she
wants to go out for at that time o' night. And I thought maybe I ought to
speak to Mr. Percival Coolidge about it."
"No. I wouldn't, Sexton," said West quietly. "It would likely enough only
get you into trouble.
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