Meeting the Wrong Family — Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World

Sir Clement calls at noon, and the Captain invites him to dinner, but Evelina's day belongs to Madame Duval. She finds her at breakfast in bed, with Monsieur Du Bois in the chamber, and is laughed at for drawing back. The talk turns to the Captain's brutality and the ill-breeding of the English. Duval mourns the Lyons silk, the first gown after her weeds, and both she and Du Bois are hoarse from the night. She insists Evelina stay to meet relations, forbids her to leave, and questions every part of her life, with another attack on the parson who has been her only benefactor. Paris, she says, would polish a bumpkinish air. She cites Miss Polly Moore, a chandler's daughter who passed for quality after a few years abroad.

The relations are Mr. Branghton, a silversmith of Snow Hill, a noisy son, and two daughters, who walk over, brush their coats, and repair their head-dress. Duval introduces Evelina by announcing that Caroline had this child after running away, and that the girl has never a friend besides. They dispute ages and height, measure with and without heels, and price her apron. While the younger two talk of the theatre, Duval tells the father the secret particulars of Evelina's situation. Miss Branghton crosses the room: Miss never saw her papa. Evelina runs out. The sisters follow to comfort her. Duval asks why she ran, as if the shock were strange.

They plan the Tower, St Paul's, and an opera the father has never seen and does not want. Evelina says her time is Mrs. Mirvan's, and decides she will not go if she can help it. Duval wants her again tomorrow. The Branghtons hope she will call the first time she is near Snow Hill. She leaves hoping that call never comes.