"Of course it must," replied he, rather wondering what would come next.
"I fear I shall find myself very uncomfortable if I continue in the same style of life I have done before; without Miss Osborne I shall be quite lost."
Mr. Howard could not help thinking that he should have supposed few mothers would have felt the change so little. They had never been companions or appeared of any consequence to each other. However he felt it his duty to make some cheering observation, and therefore ventured to suggest that her ladyship should not give way to such desponding thoughts: she might, perhaps, find it less painful than she anticipated.
"You are very kind to try to cheer me in my melancholy situation, but, Mr. Howard, I have always found you so, and I am deeply indebted to you for the many hours of comfort you have at different times procured for me. You have always been my friend."
He did not at all know what to say to this speech, and was therefore silent.
"Do you consider," continued she, "that gratitude is a good foundation for happiness in the married state?"
"It is, no doubt, a good foundation for affection," replied he, "but unless the superstructure is raised, I do not think the foundation will be of much use. It is not sufficient of itself."
"You distress me by your opinion, I had hoped that to secure gratitude was the certain way to produce love."
"I apprehend that your ladyship will find it much more easy to deserve gratitude than to secure it; it is an intractable virtue, and favors which are supposed to have this return as their object, are apt to fail entirely in their purpose."
"I am very sorry you say so, Mr. Howard; I wish I could secure love from the objects of my affection. I fear the case is exactly the reverse."