Social Warfare at Ranelagh Gardens — Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World

Madame Duval comes to tea with Monsieur Du Bois, and Captain Mirvan asks who invited that Frenchman into his house. Du Bois barely understands English, and bows as if the roughness were a compliment. Mrs. Mirvan cannot shift the subject. Sir Clement Willoughby, calling on the pretence of health, finds the short road to the Captain's friendship: he seconds every insult against Madame Duval until she trembles. The women take Mrs. Mirvan's coach. The men ride with Duval in a hackney. They meet at Ranelagh already out of humour.

Willoughby secures a box, and Lord Orville, met on Mrs. Mirvan's walk, accepts tea. Silence falls. Evelina sits between her grandmother and Sir Clement, ashamed of the ridotto and of a national quarrel she hates to own. The argument runs from hats to Paris to religion, and Duval pulls Orville into it by asking whether he liked Paris. He bows and answers with approbation. She tells him he looks like a gentleman. Mrs. Mirvan then walks Maria, Evelina, and Orville out of the box. Evelina, who wants to apologise, says almost nothing. The fear that he holds her in contempt keeps the words back. When the others rejoin, still quarrelling, the party leaves. Orville offers his services, is declined, and joins another group.

Rain has leaked into the hackney. Duval will not take Willoughby's chariot, because his raillery has piqued her. The Captain takes the dry seat in his own coach and would leave her among the servants. No other hackney can be found, so he is persuaded to ride with Willoughby, and Duval insists Du Bois join the women. Thirty yards on, their coach breaks down. Nobody is hurt. Willoughby lifts Evelina from the wet ground, carries her back to Ranelagh, and takes her into a warm room. He begins a vindication of the ridotto. She thinks of a conversation Miss Mirvan overheard, supposes he means to claim credit with Lord Orville, and will not help him finish. The Mirvans come in. Madame Duval is not with them.

Duval arrives with Du Bois, both covered in mud, her new Lyons negligee spoilt. He had tried to carry her over ankle-deep mud, and his foot slipped. The Captain laughs, wishes Du Bois joy of English ground, and holds a candle to her face. She spits. He shakes her until she sobs. They wait nearly an hour for another coach. Evelina is going in the morning to ask after her grandmother's health.