95. Death of Maria Stisted, 12th November 1878.

Burton and his wife reached London on July 27th (1878). Presently we
hear of them in Ireland, where they are the guests of Lord Talbot of
Malahide, and later he lectured at various places on "Midian" and "Ogham
Runes." Again Gordon tried to draw him to Africa, this time with the
offer of L5,000 a year, but the answer was the same as before. Then came
a great blow to Burton--the death of his beloved niece--"Minnie"--Maria
Stisted. Mrs. Burton, who was staying at Brighton, wrote to Miss
Georgiana Stisted a most kind, sympathetic and beautiful letter--a
letter, however, which reveals her indiscreetness more clearly,
perhaps, than any other that we have seen. Though writing a letter
of condolence--the sincerity of which is beyond doubt--she must needs
insert remarks which a moment's consideration would have told her were
bound to give offence--remarks of the kind that had already, indeed,
made a gulf between her and Burton's relations.

She says: "My poor darling Georgy, I do not know how to write or what
to say to you in such poignant grief. I think this is the most terrible
blow that could have happened to Maria (Lady Stisted) and you. I do not
grieve for Minnie, because, as I told Dick in my letter, her pure soul
has known nothing but religion and music, and is certainly in its own
proper place among the angels, but I do grieve for you with all my
heart.... It is no use to talk to you about 'Time healing the wound,'
or 'resigning oneself to what is inevitable,' but I have so long studied
the ways of God, that I know He has taken the angel of your house as He
always does, that this is a crisis in your lives, there is some change
about to take place, and some work or new thing you have to do in which
Minnie was not to be. I can only pray for you with all my heart, as I
did at communion this morning." So far, so good, but then comes: "and
have masses said to create another gem upon Minnie's crown."

Yet Mrs. Burton knew that she was writing to staunch Protestants whom
such a remark would make positively to writhe. Still, in spite of her
indiscretions, no human being with a heart can help loving her. She then
goes on: "Please know and feel that though the world looks dark, you
have always a staunch friend in me. Dick feels Minnie's death fearfully.
He telegraphed to me and writes every day about it. I don't think he is
in a state of health to bear many shocks just no