Hale: Madame D' Arhlay 



19 



as it is, reveals a higher quahty of humor than the elaborate pitched 

 battles between their aunt and the Captain : 



"Lord, Polly, only think! Miss never saw her papa!" 

 "Lord, how odd!" cried the other, "why then, Miss, I suppose you 

 wouldn't know him?"^° 



This is humor of the first class — humor based on the incon- 

 sequential workings of the human mind. And this shows what 

 Madame D'Arblay might have done, had she developed her genius 

 in this direction, instead of deliberately cultivating affectation and 

 sentimentality. Mr. Branghton's attempt to buy opera tickets has 

 already been given. The talk when, at last, they have reached their 

 seats at the top of the house, rings true to life ; especially Mr. Brangh- 

 ton's, ^'I find it as arrant a take-in as I ever met with'V^ and his son's 

 '^I never knew father so bit before. "'^^ During the performance they 

 make comments in a similar vein. Mr. Smith deserves special notice 

 on account of his efforts to hide his ignorance, which, as when he 

 mistakes Neptune for a general, display a high degree of humor. 

 His self-assurance is inimitable. 



The humor of Cecilia, which is heavier and more forced than that 

 of Evelina, lacks its predecessor's spontaneity, and depends to a 

 greater extent upon caricature and horseplay. Altho nothing corre- 

 sponds to the violence of Captain Mirvan and Madame Duval, none 

 of the characters equal the Branghtons. Buffoonery takes the place 

 of comedy. Morrice, upon whose antics the amusement of several 

 situations depends, is nothing but a harlequin. His skill in capturing 

 the chair beside Cecilia by leaping over it just at the moment Mr. 

 Monckton is about to sit in it,^^ would be more in place in a circus 

 ring than a novel of manners. The same can be said of his disastrous 

 attempt to jump over the table of refreshments at the masquerade, 

 and the subsequent beating which he received at the hands of Mr. 

 Monckton. Mr. Brigg's parsimony transcends belief; otherwise it 

 would amuse us. His reprimand to the maid who has beaten two 

 feathers out of the mattress, charging her with extravagance, is 

 incredible. His indignation at Cecilia's refusal of his hospitality is 

 even more absurd: 



■JO Evelina, I, 78. 



71 Cf. above, page 15. 



^2 Evelina, I, 106. 



73 Ibid., I, 107. 



74 Cecilia, I, 80. 

 7s Ibid., I, 120 fl. 

 " Cecilia, I, 364. 



