24 MEMOIR OF FLEEMING JENKIN 



could never learn any language but his own, sat in 

 the comer mumchance ; and even his son, carried 

 away by his bright mother, did not recognise for 

 long the treasures of simple chivalry that lay buried 

 in the heart of his father. Yet it would be an error 

 to regard this marriage as unfortunate. It not 

 only lasted long enough to justify itself in a beautiful 

 and touching epilogue, but it gave to the world the 

 scientific work and what (while time was) were of 

 far greater value, the delightful qualities of Fleeming 

 Jenkin. The Kentish- Welsh family, facile, extrava- 

 gant, generous to a fault and far from brilliant, had 

 given the father, an extreme example of its humble 

 virtues. On the other side, the wild, cruel, proud 

 and somewhat blackguard stock of the Scotch 

 Campbell-Jacksons had put forth, in the person 

 of the mother, all its force and courage. 



The marriage fell in evil days. In 1823, the 

 bubble of the Golden Aunt's inheritance had burst. 

 She died holding the hand of the nephew she had 

 so wantonly deceived ; at the last she drew him 

 down and seemed to bless him, surely with some 

 remorseful feeling ; for when the will was opened, 

 there was not found so much as the mention of his 

 name. He was deeply in debt ; in debt even to 

 the estate of his deceiver, so that he had to sell 

 a piece of land to clear himself. ' My dear boy,' 

 he said to Charles, ' there will be nothing left for 

 you. I am a ruined man.' And here follows for 



