Evelina writes Villars from Holborn on June 17th, lamenting that Smith has forced a Vauxhall party she cannot escape: Duval, Du Bois, all the Branghtons, Brown, Smith, and herself. Disputes over departure time and boat versus coach delay them until evening; only the Thames ride pleases her. The garden charms visually, and a hautbois concerto almost transports her, but Smith's officious attentions disgust her, and Du Bois alone receives her voluntary speech. When a bell signals the cascade, Smith seizes her hand and runs, laughing companions trailing behind as her ignorance becomes their entertainment for the night.
After viewing garden deceptions and enduring a conspicuous supper where every dish is criticised yet devoured, Evelina reluctantly joins the Branghton sisters walking ahead. They insist on the dark walks to frighten Brown, and though she protests, compulsion carries her down a barely lit alley. Riotous men encircle them; screaming, the sisters and Evelina are held until one seizes her. She breaks free and flees toward the lights, only to meet a second group that traps her hands and blocks her path with flirtatious coercion.
Willoughby suddenly recognizes her voice, claims her from the men, and leads her away amid their coarse applause. Relief turns to outrage when he presses her hand and steers her into another dark alley, declaring they shall be least observed. She rebukes his insolence, refuses explanation, and walks back toward company while he alternates kneeling apology with passionate declarations. To escape importunity she grants forgiveness with ill grace, yet marks the occasion for renewed displeasure.
Finding Duval and the Branghtons at the paintings, Evelina slows with repugnance at presenting such company to a man accustomed to better parties. Branghton scolds the long alleys; young Branghton refuses to seek his sisters; Duval reviles Willoughby until Smith claps Evelina's shoulders with familiar insolence. Willoughby's curious questions about the Mirvans grow abruptly disrespectful, and Smith shrinks beside the baronet's ease while blundering through Neptune as a general. Sisters return bruised by pranks and blame Evelina for abandoning them; family quarrels erupt; Duval refuses Willoughby's carriage offer.
Relieved when he hands her into a hackney whose driver already knows Duval's direction, Evelina hopes her lodgings stay hidden until Willoughby swears the coach is his, the driver feigns memory, and he leaps in between Du Bois and her. Duval rages in French; Miss Branghton fails to catch his eye; he reaches for Evelina's hand until Broad Street surprises him and Duval insists on her own route. At last they stop at a Holborn hosier. None is satisfied except Willoughby, who has learned where she lives and studied the house with busy eyes. Villars, she knows, will regret the meeting, though Duval's anger may keep him from calling.
Coming Up in Chapter 47
The morning after Vauxhall, the Branghtons descend on Duval's lodgings with pointed questions about Willoughby: who he is, whether Evelina ran away with him at the opera, and if he is married. Sir Clement now knows where she lives, and curiosity will not stay polite for long..
