In all candor, it's been a while since I was "swept off my feet" by a fictional character. The last one was probably Freddy from Georgette Heyer's Cotillion. But Orville, like some prehistoric Darcy, did just that. And, indeed, if he had been matched with someone his equal, this would have been less of a hidden classic. But, alas!, Evelina faints, bursts into tears, and (spoilers) lacks a sense of humor. In fact, if the tears she shed were real you could probably drown in them. So dull witted was she, that I didn't get the jokes... until the marvelous Mrs. Selwyn shows up.

Similarly, certain areas of the plot feel contrived. She goes to London with Mrs. Duval to meet her father... but then he isn't even mentioned again until the last 10 or so letters? Seems fishy to me.

But Orville! Read it for him. And be glad that Jane Austen (apparently) got inspiration from Fanny.