When Protection Becomes Possession — Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World

The day of the bet is the first untranquil one after a sweet stretch she has been too busy to journal. The race is set for five, on twenty yards of gravel. Lord Merton stays through the morning and wants the ladies to wager on his side without seeing the runners. Only Louisa agrees. Evelina is not asked. His neglect, in front of Louisa, is as pointed as an insult. Just before dinner she is alone, and the neglect ends. He shuts the door, drops the talk he had prepared for Louisa, and seizes Evelina's hand. Louisa's eyes, he says, give him a foretaste of a wife, and it will not last long. She cannot pull free. Mrs Beaumont's entrance does. He turns, perfectly assured, and hopes they see he cannot live a moment out of the house.

At the course the two old women look too infirm for a race. The company laughs. Orville stays grave through the whole transaction. Merton and Coverley, already free with drink, halloo them on. They collide and fall, drink a glass of wine, and are sent off again because both sides are too eager to wait. One slips. Evelina springs to help. Merton, who does not own that runner, shouts that there is to be no foul play. Coverley swears at the hurt woman with a rage just short of a blow, and the company gives Merton the win.

After tea, in the warm garden, success and wine take Merton past the restraint Louisa usually supplies. He seizes Evelina's hand again and will not let the day go. She asks Selwyn to speak. Beaumont interferes because the girl is a guest in her house. Louisa is glad to be rid of him and takes her brother's arm. Frightened at how drunk Merton is, Evelina wishes aloud that she too had a brother. Orville does not wait for an answer. He frees her hand and offers an arm to each sister. Louisa goes upstairs on the news that she will leave him with his new sister. In the parlour he asks whether he should apologise for interfering, or for not interfering sooner. She says only he treats her with respect. He offers a brother's services, and when she moves to go he tells her, smiling, that she had better, since he can advise against his own interest. She leaves the parlour on that advice, and she is still writing when the letter closes.