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.

" "I dare say there has been a lot of nonsense written about laughter--and tears, too, for that matter," I said impatiently.
"They say," pursued the unabashed Marlow, "that we laugh from a sense of superiority.

Therefore, observe, simplicity, honesty, warmth of feeling, delicacy of heart and of conduct, self-confidence, magnanimity are laughed at, because the presence of these traits in a man's character often puts him into difficult, cruel or absurd situations, and makes us, the majority who are fairly free as a rule from these peculiarities, feel pleasantly superior." "Speak for yourself," I said.

"But have you discovered all these fine things in the story; or has Mr.Powell discovered them to you in his artless talk?
Have you two been having good healthy laughs together?
Come! Are your sides aching yet, Marlow ?" Marlow took no offence at my banter.