FLEEMING'S MOTHER 21 



stories of adventure, and next his heart, the da- 

 guerreotype of an Indian prince with whom he 

 had mixed blood. 



The last of this wild family, the daughter, Henri- Fieeming's 



mother. 



etta Camilla, became the wife of the midshipman 

 Charies, and the mother of the subject of this 

 notice, Fleeming Jenkin. She was a woman of 

 parts and courage. Not beautiful, she had a far 

 higher gift, the art of seeming so ; played the part 

 of a belle in society, while far lovelier women were 

 left unattended ; and up to old age, had much of 

 both the exigency and the charm that mark that 

 character. She drew naturally, for she had no 

 training, with unusual skill ; and it was from her, 

 and not from the two naval artists, that Fleeming 

 inherited his eye and hand. She played on the 

 harp and sang with something beyond the talent 

 of an amateur. At the age of seventeen, she heard 

 Pasta in Paris ; flew up in a fire of youthful enthus- 

 iasm ; and the next morning, all alone and without 

 introduction, found her way into the presence of 

 the prima donna and begged for lessons. Pasta 

 made her sing, kissed her when she had done, and 

 though she refused to be her mistress, placed her 

 in the hands of a friend. Nor was this all ; for 

 when Pasta returned to Paris, she sent for the 

 girl (once at least) to test her progress. But Mrs. 

 Jenkin's talents were not so remarkable as her 

 fortitude and strength of will ; and it was in an 



