She knew that the man was a good servant, and that the estate was kept in excellent order.

After all, the severities of which she had heard complaints were by no means excessive, and it was not to be expected that a Northern overseer could rule entirely by kindness, as the owner of an estate could do.

A change would be most inconvenient to her, and she would have difficulty in suiting herself so well another time.

Besides, the man had been with her sixteen years, and was, as she believed, devoted to her interests.

Therefore she turned a deaf ear to Vincent's remonstrances.
She had always been somewhat opposed to his being left in England at school, urging that he would learn ideas there that would clash with those of the people among whom his life was to be spent; and she still considered that her views had been justified by the result.
The overseer was the first to give his version of the story about Dan's conduct; for on going to the house Vincent found his sisters, Rosa and Annie, in the garden, having just returned from a two days' visit to some friends in Richmond, and stayed chatting with them and listening to their news for an hour, and in the meantime Jonas had gone in and seen Mrs.Wingfield and told his story.
"I think, Mrs.Wingfield," he said when he had finished, "that it will be better for me to leave you.