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old woman may repent and mend her ways。' The 'grand idea' might be
possible in art； not even the ingenuity of nature could so round in
the actual life of any man。 And yet it might almost seem to fancy
that she had read the letter and taken the hint； for to Fleeming
the cruelties of fate were strangely blended with tenderness； and
when death came； it came harshly to others； to him not unkindly。
In the autumn of that same year 1875； Fleeming's father and mother
were walking in the garden of their house at Merchiston； when the
latter fell to the ground。 It was thought at the time to be a
stumble； it was in all likelihood a premonitory stroke of palsy。
From that day； there fell upon her an abiding panic fear； that
glib； superficial part of us that speaks and reasons could allege
no cause； science itself could find no mark of danger； a son's
solicitude was laid at rest； but the eyes of the body saw the
approach of a blow； and the consciousness of the body trembled at
its coming。 It came in a moment； the brilliant； spirited old lady
leapt from her bed； raving。 For about six months； this stage of
her disease continued with many painful and many pathetic
circumstances； her husband who tended her； her son who was
unwearied in his visits； looked for no change in her condition but
the change that comes to all。 'Poor mother；' I find Fleeming
writing； 'I cannot get the tones of her voice out of my head。 。 。 I
may have to bear this pain for a long time； and so I am bearing it
and sparing myself whatever pain seems useless。 Mercifully I do
sleep； I am so weary that I must sleep。' And again later： 'I
could do very well； if my mind did not revert to my poor mother's
state whenever I stop attending to matters immediately before me。'
And the next day： 'I can never feel a moment's pleasure without
having my mother's suffering recalled by the very feeling of
happiness。 A pretty； young face recalls hers by contrast … a
careworn face recalls it by association。 I tell you； for I can
speak to no one else； but do not suppose that I wilfully let my
mind dwell on sorrow。'
In the summer of the next year； the frenzy left her； it left her
stone deaf and almost entirely aphasic； but with some remains of
her old sense and courage。 Stoutly she set to work with
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 （of whose good heart and taste I do not hear for the
first time … the news had come to me by way of the Infirmary）； and
their next…door neighbour； unwearied in service； Miss Hannah Mayne。
Nor should I omit to mention that John Ruffini continued to write
to Mrs。 Jenkin till his own death； and the clever lady known to the
world as Vernon Lee until the end： a touching； a becoming
attention to what was only the wreck and survival of their
brilliant friend。
But he to whom this affliction brought the greatest change was the
Captain himself。 What was bitter in his lot； he bore with unshaken
courage； only once； in these ten years of trial； has Mrs。 Fleeming
Jenkin seen him weep； for the rest of the time his wife … his
commanding officer； now become his trying child … was served not
with patience alone； but with a lovely happiness of temper。 He had
belonged all his life to the ancient； formal； speechmaking；
compliment…presenting school of courtesy； the dictates of this code
partook in his eyes of the nature of a duty； and he must now be
courteous for two。 Partly from a happy illusion； partly in a
tender fraud； he kept his wife before the world as a still active
partner。 When he paid a call； he would have her write 'with love'
upon a card； or if that （at the moment） was too much； he would go
armed with a bouquet and present it in her name。 He even wrote
letters for her to copy and sign： an innocent substitution； which
may have caused surprise to Ruffini or to Vernon Lee； if they ever
received； in the hand of Mrs。 Jenkin the very obvious reflections
of her husband。 He had always adored this wife whom he now tended
and sought to represent in correspondence： it was now； if not
before； her turn to repay the compliment； mind enough was left her
to perceive his unwearied kindness； and as her moral qualities
seemed to survive quite unimpaired； a childish love and gratitude
were his reward。 She would interrupt a conversation to cross the
room and kiss him。 If she grew excited （as she did too often） it
was his habit to come behind her chair and pat her shoulder； and
then she would turn round； and clasp his hand in hers； and look
from him to her visitor with a face of pride and love； and it was
at such moments only that the light of humanity revived in her
eyes。 It was hard for any stranger； it was impossible for any that
loved them； to behold these mute scenes； to recall the past； and
not to weep。 But to the Captain； I think it was all happiness。
After these so long years； he had found his wife again； perhaps
kinder than ever before； perhaps now on a more equal footing；
certainly； to his eyes； still beautiful。 And the call made on his
intelligence had not been made in vain。 The merchants of Aux
Cayes； who had seen him tried in some 'counter…revolution' in 1845；
wrote to the consul of his 'able and decided measures；' 'his cool；
steady judgment and discernment' with admiration； and of himself；
as 'a credit and an ornament to H。 M。 Naval Service。' It is plain
he must have sunk in all his powers； during the years when he was
only a figure； and often a dumb figure； in his wife's drawing…room；
but with this new ter