" Mary herself, when she was recovering, said that "she knew she must
go to Bethlehem for life; that one of her brothers would have it so; the
other would not wish it, but would be obliged to go with the stream."
At this time, reckoning up their several means of living, Charles Lamb and
his father had together an income of one hundred and seventy or one
hundred and eighty pounds; out of which, he says, "we can spare fifty or
sixty pounds at least for Mary whilst she stays in an asylum. If I and my
father and an old maid-servant can't live, and live comfortably, on one
hundred and thirty or one hundred and twenty pounds a year, we ought to
burn by slow fires. I almost would, so that Mary might not go into a
hospital." She was then recovering her health; had become serene and
cheerful; and Charles was passionately desirous that, after a short
residence in the lunatic establishment wherein she then was, she should
return home: "But the surviving members of her family" (these are Sir
Thomas Talfourd's words), "especially John, who enjoyed a fair income from
the South Sea House, opposed her discharge." Charles, however, ultimately
succeeded in his pious desire, upon entering into a solemn undertaking to
take care of his sister thereafter.
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