‘Is it good? Does it comfort?’
‘Very much.’
‘I will be with you—I and Mrs. Gill only—in any, in every extremity where calm and fidelity are needed. No rash or coward hand shall meddle.’
‘Yet you think me childish?’
‘I do.’
‘Ah! you despise me.’
‘Do we despise children?’
‘In fact, I am neither so strong, nor have I such pride in my strength as people think, Mr. Moore, nor am I so regardless of sympathy; but when I have any grief, I fear to impart it to those I love, lest it should pain them: and to those whom I view with indifference, I cannot condescend to complain. After all, you should not taunt me with being childish; for if you were as unhappy as I have been for the last three weeks, you too would want some friend.’
‘We all want a friend, do we not?’
‘All of us that have anything good in our natures.’
‘Well, you have Caroline Helstone.’
‘Yes. And you have Mr. Hall.’
‘Yes. Mrs. Pryor is a wise, good woman: she can counsel you when you need counsel.’
‘For your part, you have your brother Robert.’
‘For any right-hand defections, there is the Rev. Matthewson Helstone, M.A., to lean upon; for any left- hand fallings-off, there is Hiram Yorke, Esq. Both elders pay you homage.’
‘I never saw Mrs. Yorke so motherly to any young man as she is to you. I don’t know how you have won her heart, but she is more tender to you than she is to her own sons. You have, besides, your sister Hortense.’
‘It appears we are both well provided.’
‘It appears so.’
‘How thankful we ought to be!’
‘Yes.’
‘How contented!’
‘Yes.’
‘For my part, I am almost contented just now, and very thankful. Gratitude is a divine emotion; it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever. I like to taste leisurely of bliss; devoured in haste, I do not know its flavour.’