But the preservation of her friend's mental powers was an imperative necessity.

Had Say been permitted to fall a prey to her momentary excitement, everything would have been lost for Shotaye.

Had Say's mind given way permanently, the cause of that calamity would have been attributed to her, and she would have been charged with her friend's insanity in addition to the charge of witchcraft already being formulated.
These thoughts, however, came to her now in the stillness of the night and by the fireside.

So long as her poor friend was with her she had acted almost instinctively, with the quick grasp of an active intellect and under the good impulses of compassion and attachment.

Now that she was alone the time had come to ponder, and Shotaye weighed in her mind the liabilities and assets of her situation.