"
I should like to add a few words as to her spiritual life, because it
entered so profoundly into all that she said and did, that no record of
her would be complete which ignored it. We have seen how in every crisis
of her life, through all her perils, trials, and difficulties, she turned
instinctively to that Source where many look for strength and some find
it. Lady Burton was one of those who found it: though all else might
fail her, this consolation never failed. In her fervent faith is to be
found the occult force which enabled her to dare all things, hope all
things. We may agree with her religious views or not, but we are
compelled to admit their power to sustain her through life's battle.
The secret of her strength was this: to her the things spiritual and
invisible--which to many of us are unreal, however loudly we may
profess our belief in them--were living realities. It is difficult
for some of us perhaps, in this material, sceptical world of ours,
to realize a nature like hers. Yet there are many such, and they
form the strongest proof of the living force of Christianity to-day.
"Transcendental," the world remarks, with a sneer. But who is there
among us who would not, an he could, exchange uncertainty and unrest
for the possession of a peace which the world cannot give? There are
some natures who _can_ believe, who _can_ look forward to a prize so
great and wonderful as to hold the pain and trouble of the race of
very small account when weighed against the hope of victory.
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