[gmw]

My early post complained of a lack of desperately needed humour, but I did find a few things that made me chuckle ... although I'm uncertain how many of them the author meant to be funny.

I went home very happy, with a heart brimful of complacency for myself, and overflowing with love for Eliza.

seemed to intimate that the owner thereof was prouder of his beauty than his intellect—as, perhaps, he had reason to be;

‘[...]Receive, coldly and dispassionately, every attention, till you have ascertained and duly considered the worth of the aspirant; and let your affections be consequent upon approbation alone. First study; then approve; then love.
[...]
‘But what are all the poor fools and reprobates to do, aunt? If everybody followed your advice, the world would soon come to an end.’

These have to be an intentional humour, yes?

Nothing more than you do, Arthur: your actions are all right so far; but I would have your thoughts changed;

Okay, so this is only (possibly) wryly funny... or I found it so. It was sort of: Wow! Whoo! Did you hear what you just said? Such words and Helen is still thinking about marrying Arthur ... and he her? Funny or not, I did laugh.

It contained upon examination a newspaper and one or two letters for him, and a couple of letters for me,

This is probably only funny to nerds. My reaction was: No cat? Sorry, quoting this is a bit silly, it's just the "upon examination" that got me, as if it might have held something different before examination - leading naturally (in my mind) to Schrödinger's cat.

‘At any rate,’ resumed she, pursuing her advantage, ‘you can console yourself with the assurance that you are worthy of all the love he gives to you.’

Ouch! Great line.

‘Mrs. Huntingdon,’ said he as I passed, ‘will you allow me one word?’

‘What is it then? be quick, if you please.’

‘I offended you this morning; and I cannot live under your displeasure.’

‘Then go, and sin no more,’ replied I, turning away.

I literally did laugh out loud for this one, but did Anne mean it to be that funny?

though his kind nurse did not complain

To which I heard Inigo from The Princess Bride saying "You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means". What are all these letters to her brother if not complaints? The letters to her brother read as self-serving "oh look at me and how good I'm being." In a private journal (part 2 of the book) you're allowed to be self-pitying, but in letters to others you should be more reserved unless you intend to be showing conspicuous compassion.