She was master of her own soul.

What right had he to catechise her--as though she were a servant or a criminal?
But she checked the answer on her tongue, because she was hurt deeper than words could express, and she said, composedly: "I have here a letter from my cousin Lacey, who is with Claridge Pasha.
It has news of him, of events in the Soudan.

He had fever, there was to be a fight, and I wished to know if you had any later news.

I thought that document there might contain news, but I did not read it.

I realised that it was not yours, that it belonged to the Government, that I had no right.