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, extravagant, 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.
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