And yet when you saw him fall, not knowing whether he had hurt himself, you began to laugh, and flew into the house without making any inquiries.
JAMES.
It is not in my power to avoid laughing when I see any one fall in a ridiculous manner; when the Doctor’s wig fell off, he looked so droll—I cannot help laughing, even now, when I think of it.
CHARLES.
You can avoid laughing if you will; you have a good heart, I have seen you feel compassion.
JAMES.
No, it is not want of compassion; and yet it is true I cannot keep myself from laughing: I wish I knew the reason.
CHARLES.
Let us try to find it out. Suppose you saw a man without an arm or a leg, who did every thing in an awkward laughable manner, yet an inclination to laugh would be instantly restrained by fear of offending an unfortunate fellow-creature: but let the hat fly off on one side, and the wig on the other, and then you instantly laugh, without remembering a leg or an arm may soon be broken.
JAMES.