hape of novels," from London, and so
rest his brain for an hour just before bedtime. Burton demurred, but
the novels were ultimately sent for, they duly arrived, and Burton
went through a course of "chou-chou," as he called it. After a while,
however, he gave up what he had never taken to kindly, and henceforward
he nightly "rested his brain," by reading books in the modern Greek
dialects.

151. Three Months at Abbazia. 1st Dec. 1887-5th March 1888.

On the 1st of December 1887, in order to avoid the fearful boras of
Trieste, and to shelter in the supposed mild climate of "the Austrian
Riviera," Burton, accompanied, as always, by his wife, Dr. Baker, and
Lisa, went to stay at Abbazia. The subscriptions for his Supplemental
Nights were now pouring in, and they put him in great jollity. Jingling
his money in his pockets, he said to Dr. Baker, "I've always been poor,
and now we'll enjoy ourselves." Henceforth he spent his money like a
dissipated school-boy at a statute fair. Special trains, the best rooms
in the best hotels, anything, everything he fancied--and yet all
the while he worked at his books "like a navvy." Abbazia was a
disappointment. Snow fell for two months on end, and all that time
they were mewed up in their hotel. Burton found the society agreeable,
however, and he read German with the Catholic priest. Most of his time
was spent in finishing the Supplemental Nights, and Lady Burton was busy
preparing for the press and expurgated edition of her husband's work
which, it was hoped, would take its place on the drawing-room table.
Mr. Justin Huntly McCarthy, son of the novelist, gave her considerably
assistance, and the work appeared in 1888. Mr. Kirby's notes were to
have been appended to Lady Burton's edition of the Nights as well as
to Sir Richard's, but ultimately the idea was abandoned. "My wife and I
agreed," writes Burton, "that the whole of your notes would be far too
learned for her public," [549] so only a portion was used. Lady Burton's
work consisted of six volumes corresponding with Burton's first ten,
from which 215 pages were omitted.

Owing to the stagnation of Abbazia, and the martyrdom which he endured
from the gout, Burton was very glad to get back to Trieste, which was
reached on March 5th. When his pain was acute he could not refrain from
groaning, and at such times, Lady Burton, kneeling by his bedside, use
to say "Offer it up, offer it up"--meaning that prayer alone would bring