A few days later the news came to them that the Government
had at last recognized Burton's public services. It came in the form
of a telegram addressed to "Sir Richard Burton." Isabel says: "He
tossed it over to me, and said, 'Some fellow is playing me a practical
joke, or else it is not for me. I shall not open it, so you may as well
ring the bell and give it back again.'" His wife said, "Oh no; I shall
open it if you don't." So it was opened. It was from Lord Salisbury,
conveying in the kindest terms that the Queen, at his recommendation,
had made him K.C.M.G. in reward for his services. He looked very
serious and quite uncomfortable, and said, "Oh, I shall not accept it."
She said, "You had better accept it, Jemmy, because it is a certain
sign that they are going to give you the place--Tangiers, Morocco."
There is only one thing to be said about this honour--it came too late.
Too late for him, because he had never at any time cared much for these
things. "Honour, not honours" was his motto; and now the recognition of
his services, which might have been a great encouragement ten of fifteen
years earlier, and have spurred him on to fresh efforts, found him broken
by sickness, and with life's zest to a great extent gone. Too late for
her because her only pleasure in these things was that they reflected
credit upon her husband; and if he did not appreciate them, she did not
care. Yet of course she was glad that at last there had come some return
for her unceasing efforts, and some admission, though tardy, of the
services which her husband had rendered.
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