throughout life, without interruption; without a cloud, except such as
rose from the fluctuations of her health. It is said that a woman rises or
falls with the arm on which she leans. In this case, Mary Lamb at all
times had a safe support; an arm that never shook nor wavered, but kept
its elevation, faithful and firm throughout life.

It is difficult to explain fully the great love of Charles for his sister,
except in his own words. Whenever her name occurs in the correspondence,
the tone is always the same; always tender; without abatement, without
change. "I am a fool" (he writes) "bereft of her cooperation. I am used to
look up to her in the least and biggest perplexities. To say all that I
find her, would be more than I think anybody could possibly understand.
She is older, wiser, and better than I am; and all my wretched
imperfections I cover to myself, by resolutely thinking on her goodness.
She would share life and death with me." This (to anticipate) was written
in 1805, when she was suffering from one of her attacks of illness. After
she became better, he became better also, and opened his heart to the
pleasures and objects around him. It was open at all times to want, and
sickness, and wretchedness, and generally to the friendly voices and
homely realities that rose up and surrounded him in his daily walk through
life.

During all his years he was encircled by groups of loving friends. There
were no others habitually round him. It is reported of some person that he
had not merit enough to create a foe. In Lamb's case, I suppose, he did
not possess that peculiar merit; for he lived and died without an enemy.