Be as prudent
and sparing of yourself as you can.
"Yours ever,
"HENRY MATTHEWS."
After they had been at Trieste two years, at the end of 1874 Burton
proposed that his wife should go to England and transact some business
for him, and bring out certain books which he had written. He would join
her later on. Isabel was exceedingly unwilling to go; but "whenever he
put his foot down I had to do it, whether I would or no." So she went,
and arrived in London in December, after an uneventful journey.
Isabel found her work cut out for her in London. Her husband had given
her several pages of directions, and she tried to carry them out as
literally as possible. She had to see a number of publishers for one
thing, and to work up an interest in a sulphur mine for another. She
says: "I got so wrapped up in my work at this time that sometimes I
worked for thirteen hours, feeling my head whirling, and being quite
alarmed. Then I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to eat all
day." She had also the proof-sheets to correct of her own book, which
was going through the press. She was in London without her husband for
four months, and during that time she had a great shock. A paragraph
appeared in _The Scotsman_ announcing Burton's death, and speaking
of her as his widow. She telegraphed to Trieste at once, and packed
up. Just as she was starting she got a telegram from him saying, "I
am eating a very good dinner at _table d'hote_.
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