Theater Politics and Social Warfare — Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World

Their places are in the front row of a side-box. Sir Clement hands them from the carriage, and Lord Orville leaves the stage-box to sit with them all evening. Maria and Evelina had been glad Madame Duval was absent. It hardly helps. Evelina dares not speak, and hardly knows where to look. Love for Love is full of wit and, to her, so indelicate that she and Maria are out of countenance while Orville is in excellent spirits.

When the curtain drops, Mr. Lovel comes in. Orville and Willoughby return his compliments coldly. Lovel bends toward Evelina with a correction he has clearly prepared: not the honour of dancing with her, but of seeing her dance. He sneers at her country distance, at London air, and at the causes of a lady's colour. Orville asks if that question could have been spared. Mrs. Mirvan warns him off any hint of rouge. The talk of complexion becomes a joke in the Captain's hands, and Orville distinguishes a mottled natural colour from paint that is set and too smooth. Invited off beauty, Lovel pretends he seldom listens to the players and does not know the play, then produces a bill and finds Love for Love. The Captain suggests he might have noticed Mr. Tattle. Lovel answers with Mr. Ben, flinches when the cane hits the floor, and turns on Miss Prue, rural ignorance aimed at Evelina. Willoughby answers warmly. Orville says the only woman worth naming to these ladies is Angelica, and then faults her for generosity without delicacy. Lovel leaves when the farce begins. Evelina is sure he listened all along, and that the extra foppery is affectation. Now that he resents the ball, she is afraid of him.

On the way home Mrs. Mirvan says that resentment would be duel enough if his courage matched his wrath. Evelina is terrified, then glad the cowardice spends itself on her rather than on Lord Orville. Miss Mirvan saw Orville watch the attack with indignation. Tonight they go to the opera. He said he would look for them. Cowardice keeps the spite on Evelina rather than on Lord Orville. The opera is still ahead, and Madame Duval was not the danger in the box.