From this arose a silly
rumour, which I mention only to contradict, that Lady Burton was in
the habit of receiving her visitors in her husband's tomb, which, as
we have seen, was also fashioned like an Arab tent, though of stone.
Lady Burton stayed down at Mortlake for a few months, and came back
to Baker Street in March, 1892, where she remained for two or three
months.
For the first year of her life in England she lived like a recluse,
never going out anywhere except on business or to church, never
accepting an invitation or paying visits; but about this time she
gradually came out of her seclusion, and began to collect around
her a small circle of near relatives and friends. Always fond of
society, though she had now abjured it in a general sense, she could
not live alone, so in addition to the companionship of her favourite
sister Mrs. Fitzgerald, who lived with her and shared all her thoughts,
she widened her circle a little and received a few friends. She was
fond of entertaining, and gave many little informal gatherings, which
were memorable from the grace and charm of the hostess. Lady Burton
was always a picturesque and fascinating personality, but never more
so than in these last years of her life. She possessed a fine and
handsome presence, which was rendered even more effective by her
plain black dress and widow's cap, with its long white veil which
formed an effective background to her finely cut features.
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