When they returned to
Trieste, they had a good many visitors, among others the late Mr. W. H.
Smith and his family. He was always a kind friend to Isabel, as indeed
he was to every one he liked. And that (like Lord Beaconsfield, Lord
Salisbury, Lord Clarendon, Lord Derby, and many other leading statesmen)
he had a high opinion of her abilities is, I think evident from the
following letter. Men do not write in this way to stupid women:
"3, GROSVENOR PLACE, S.W., March 1, 1881.
"DEAR MRS. BURTON,
"Your kind letters have reached us since our arrival here. We were
earlier in our return than we had at first intended, as Parliament was
called together so soon; but our house was not ready, and my family had
to stay in the country for some little time. It is very good of you to
send me the _Lusiads_. I am keeping them for those delightful days
of quiet and enjoyment which are to be had sometimes in the country,
but not in these stormy days in London. Are we to have peace and quiet?
Ireland will be sullenly quiet now under coercion, after having been
stimulated by oratory almost to madness. South Africa is a very serious
matter indeed. I am told the Dutch colonists within the Cape will
remain loyal; but our reputation as an invincible race suffers with all
the natives. And then the European East, nothing at present can look
blacker, and all because of passionate words and hatred.
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