Until
the day of her death Lady Burton never ceased to believe in the vast
wealth which was lying waste in the Mines of Midian, and used to wax
quite enthusiastic about it.
Isabel was anxious to accompany her husband on his first expedition
to Midian; but as there was not enough money for both of them, she had
to make the usual sacrifice and stay at home. During her husband's
absence she spent most of her time at Opcina and up in the mountains,
as she was busily engaged in correcting the proofs of one of his books.
When Burton started on his second expedition to Midian, it was arranged
between him and his wife that, as Ismail Khedive was in such a very good
humour, Isabel should make her way out to Cairo, and induce the Khedive
to send her after her husband to Midian. She was eager and impatient to
start, and as soon as she could possibly complete her arrangements she
went on board an Austrian Lloyd's and made the voyage from Trieste to
Alexandria. When she arrived at the latter place, she found a letter
from her husband, "You are not to attempt to join me unless you can do
so in proper order." This rather upset her plans, as she did not know
what "proper order" meant. She therefore went on at once to Cairo, made
her representations in the proper quarter, and then returned to Suez.
After remaining there some time in a state of great impatience, she was
informed that a ship was going to be sent out, and that she was to have
the offer of going in her, though it was intimated to her privately that
the Khedive and the Governor, Said Bey, very much hoped that she would
refuse.
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