Page:Satire in the Victorian novel (IA satireinvictoria00russrich).pdf/171



"She had a balance at the banker's which would have made her beloved anywhere. * * * What a dignity it gives an old lady, that balance at the banker's!"

Such also is this demolishing assault upon worldliness:

"I, for my part, have known a five pound note to interpose and knock up a half century's attachment between two brethren; and can't but admire, as I think what a fine and durable thing Love is among worldly people."

And this upon a shoddy noblesse oblige:

"I admire that admiration which the genteel world sometimes extends to the commonalty. There is no more agreeable object in life than to see May Fair folks condescending."

When he gravely admonishes, it is as follows:

"Praise everybody, I say to such; never be squeamish, but speak out your compliment both point blank to a man's face, and behind his back, when you know there is a reasonable chance of his hearing it again."

The direct satire on Pitt Crawley as an undergraduate is given an ironic fillip by another sting in the tail:

"But though he had a fine flux of words, and delivered his little voice with great pomposity and pleasure to himself, and never advanced any sentiment or opinion which was not perfectly trite and stale, and supported by a Latin quotation; yet he failed somehow, in spite of a mediocrity which ought to have insured any man a success."

Another successful bit,—this time the device of catching an unwary character in an ironic trap,—is the account of Penn's linguistic proficiency. His friend Strong compliments him on speaking French like Chateaubriand,—