Her words and manner had been extremely abrupt, and her explanation far from satisfactory.
Perhaps it was the influence of Percival Coolidge which accounted for the sudden change in the girl.

This explanation seemed probable.

The man had in some way regained her confidence, and then, through trickery, had succeeded in poisoning her mind.

There was no doubt he would do this, if possible, and the probability was that he had finally discovered a way.
From the very first, West had felt the antagonism of the other; there had never been any love lost between them.

Coolidge disliked him instinctively, and made no effort to conceal his feelings; he resented the intimacy between him and Natalie, naturally enough, and would use every means possible to get the younger man completely out of the house.
No doubt he looked upon him as dangerous.