Cards and Ultimatums — Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World

On 4 July Evelina tells Villars he may send Clinton with speed. She believes no one will now stop her leaving London, and she almost wishes she had never entered it. That morning Duval orders her to Snow Hill with Du Bois, to invite the Branghtons and Smith for the evening. She obeys, afraid Orville may call or answer her letter while she is gone. Du Bois is silent the whole walk.

In the shop Smith spends his gallantry on Miss Branghton, which Evelina takes as the effect of her conduct at the Hampstead ball. Young Branghton laughs in her face. His father defends what they did about Lord Orville and wants to know the fault. She asks that her name never be used without her knowledge. Smith refuses the invitation. The others promise to come. As she leaves she hears Branghton tell his son to take courage, for she is only coy. The youth follows. She talks to Du Bois to escape him, and Du Bois reads the attention as love.

At home, two cards wait: Lord Orville and Sir Clement Willoughby. The maid says Orville has been gone not two minutes. Young Branghton wagers that Orville saw them walking up Holborn Hill, and jokes that the lord came with an order for his father. Evelina runs upstairs. Du Bois follows into the empty dining room, falls at her feet, and catches her hand as Duval opens the door.

Duval attacks him in French. Evelina understands enough. Duval had meant his affection for herself. He withdraws. Duval calls Evelina ungrateful and designing, and says she will neither take her to Paris nor interest herself further unless Evelina instantly marries young Branghton. The threat restores her courage. She says she can never obey in that point. Duval orders her from the room. She will skip the evening visit, is sorry to have displeased Duval without meaning to, and is glad to quit a town that now holds no one she wishes to meet, except that missing Orville still hurts, and she hopes his call means her letter satisfied him. The hour is coming, she tells Villars, when she hopes to receive his blessing.