" "Coming as
it did so soon," she says, "after her somewhat theatrical destruction
of _The Scented Garden_," this act "could not be permitted to pass
unchallenged." She not only charges Lady Burton with inconsistency,
but hints at pecuniary greed, for she mentions the sum she received.
Yet there was nothing inconsistent in Lady Burton's conduct in this
connexion. On the contrary, it is one more tribute to her consistency,
one more proof of the theory I have put forward in her defence, for the
excisions which Lady Burton made were only those which referred to the
subject which was the theme of _The Scented Garden_. Lady Burton was
no prude: she knew also that her husband did not write as "a young
lady to young ladies"; but she drew the line at a certain point, and
she drew it rigidly. By her husband's will she had full power to
bring out any editions she might please of _The Arabian Nights_ or any
other book of his. She therefore sanctioned the library edition with
certain excisions, and the reasons which prompted her to make these
excisions in _The Arabian Nights_ were the same as those which led
her to burn _The Scented Garden_.
NOTES:
1. Lady Burton's letter to _The Morning Post_, June 19, 1891.
2. Vol. X. _Arabian Nights_, Terminal Essay, Section D,
pp. 205, 206, 1886.
CHAPTER II. THE RETURN TO ENGLAND. (1890-1891).
Not yet, poor soul! A few more darksome hours
And sore temptations met and overcome,
A few more crosses bravely, meekly carried,
Ere I can proudly call the tried one home.
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