216 MEMOIR OF FLEEMING JENKIN 



dictionaries, to recover her lost tongues ; and 

 had already made notable progress, when a third 

 stroke scattered her acquisitions. Thenceforth, 

 for nearly ten years, stroke followed upon stroke, 

 each still further jumbling the threads of her 

 intelligence, but by degrees so gradual and with 

 such partiality of loss and of survival, that her 

 precise state was always and to the end a matter 

 of dispute. She still remembered her friends ; 

 she still loved to learn news of them upon the 

 slate ; she still read and marked the list of the 

 subscription library ; she still took an interest 

 in the choice of a play for the theatricals, and 

 could remember and find parallel passages ; but 

 alongside of these surviving powers were lapses 

 as remarkable, she misbehaved like a child, and 

 a servant had to sit with her at table. To see 

 her so sitting, speaking with the tones of a deaf 

 mute not always to the purpose, and to remember 

 what she had been, was a moving appeal to all 

 who knew her. Such was the pathos of these 

 two old people in their affliction, that even the 

 reserve of cities was melted and the neighbours 

 vied in sympathy and kindness. Where so many 

 were more than usually helpful, it is hard to draw 

 distinctions ; but I am directed and I delight 

 to mention in particular the good Dr. Joseph 

 Bell, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Archibald Constable 

 with both their wives, the Rev. Mr. Belcombe 



