Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World Ch. 45 Summary

Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World cover

Fanny Burney

Class Prejudice and Social Performances

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Summary

Madame Duval, dull after a day of vapours at home, sends Evelina with Du Bois to plan an evening. In the shop Macartney sits with a book. He starts and changes colour when he sees her face. Upstairs Polly and Brown grow so fond and so foolish that Evelina leaves them. Downstairs Miss Branghton takes her chair, and Branghton tells Macartney to lend his stool. Evelina asks Miss Branghton to make room instead. The shop's grossness disgusts her. She carries the stool back, thanks Macartney, and says she would rather stand.

Smith arrives, flatters her, and turns a family quarrel into a vote: Saltero's, Mother Red Cap's, White-Conduit House, Bagnigge Wells, Sadler's Wells, Vauxhall. He whispers that he will say whatever she says, then demands her casting vote once the others have spoken. She answers that the voting is not yet general, and turns to Macartney. Branghton asks if she would have the cats and dogs vote. The room laughs.

She tells Du Bois she will call a coach, and leaves. Smith follows with excuses and will not turn back until they reach Dawkins's. Duval is displeased to learn so little. White-Conduit House is fixed, and Evelina must go. The crowds are smart, gaudy, pert, and low-bred, and her own party seems at home among them. She has already decided she will show Macartney civility whenever she can, because this family turns his misfortunes into scorn.

In this chapter:Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Respect Said Out Loud

A polite vote can still be a trap when every choice sits beneath you. Smith demands Evelina's casting vote for another low outing, and Branghton asks if she would have the cats and dogs vote when she includes Macartney.

You can show respect out loud to the person a room is mocking, even when you cannot change the plan.

This chapter

Inside the Mind: Mr. Macartney

In the shop he starts at her face before anyone has explained her. The look is not yet a recognition she can use. It is a disturbance. Someone in the trade of this house sees Caroline, or something near her, and has no sentence for it. Evelina only knows she has been stared at by a man the family keeps on a stool.

Continue this thoughtSomeone Else Was Wearing the Name

Coming Up in Chapter 46

Smith carries his point and makes a party for Vauxhall that Evelina cannot escape: Madame Duval, Du Bois, the Branghtons, Brown, and herself. Quarrels over the hour and the boat delay them until evening, and only the ride on the Thames pleases her.

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Chapter 45

Class Prejudice and Social Performances

LETTER XLV EVELINA IN CONTINUATION June 15th. YESTERDAY morning Madame Duval again sent me to Mr. Branghton's, attended by M. Du Bois, to make some party for the evening, because she had had the vapours the preceding day from staying at home. As I entered the shop, I perceived the unfortunate North Briton seated in a corner, with a book in his hand. He cast his melancholy eyes up as we came in; and, I believe, immediately recollected my face-for he started, and changed colour. I delivered Madame Duval's message to Mr. Branghton, who told me I should find Polly…

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Theme-by-theme analyses that connect this book to modern life skills.

Deep diving the literary elements.

Class Prejudice and Social Performances

Summary

Why This Matters