She felt that in her were represented all the privileges of what priesthood might be claimed in this valley.

She felt that her judgment was large enough to be infallible, since she so long had been arbiter here in all mooted matters.

It was, therefore, surely her right to have intelligence as to the plans, the emotions, the mental process of all these people, including all newcomers.

Were they not indeed in her charge?
Her right?
Indeed, was it not her duty to know what there was in this letter from the woman whom she herself had brought out here not so long ago?
It caused her vast perturbation, for she had a conscience which dated back to ages of Scottish blood, but she was not one to deviate from her duty once she had established it! This letter--to Major Allen Barnes, in yonder city--what was in it?
It was a letter going to that outer world, from the very person whom she, Sarah Davidson, had brought into this sagebrush world and had set down among these neighbors.

Just now she had confessed herself to be happy here.