Letter XIII: Evelina in Continuation explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Social Class and Manners

  Evelina's struggle with proper conduct at the ridotto highlights the importance of social etiquette and the consequences of breaching it.

• Female Education and Innocence

  Evelina's inexperience and naivety lead to her embarrassment, reflecting the theme of a young woman's education in society.

• Love and Courtship

  Evelina's desire to dance with Lord Orville and her distress over his opinion of her hint at developing romantic feelings.

Characters to notice

• Evelina Anville

  Narrates the letter; feels ashamed and inexperienced after her deception at the ridotto is exposed.

• Lord Orville

  Appears at the ridotto; kindly understands Evelina's embarrassment and helps her escape.

• Sir Clement Willoughby

  The 'persecutor' who pesters Evelina at the ridotto and exposes her false claim of being engaged.

• Mrs. Mirvan

  Accompanies Evelina to the ridotto; shows concern and helps her leave.

• Miss Mirvan

  Dances a minuet and later comforts Evelina; identifies Sir Clement as the man who heard Lord Orville speak of Evelina.

• Captain Mirvan

  Mentioned as gross and likely to have added to Evelina's confusion if present; plans to take the group to the fantoccini.

Key passages

• “We came home from the ridotto so late, or rather so early that it was not possible for me to write. Indeed, we did not go—you will be frightened to hear it—till past eleven o’clock: but nobody does. A terrible reverse of the order of nature! We sleep with the sun, and wake with the moon.”

  We returned from the ridotto so late—or rather so early—that I couldn't write. We didn't even leave until after eleven, which is normal here. It's an unnatural reversal: we sleep during the day and stay awake at night.

  Evelina describes the late hours kept in London society.

• “I made many objections to being of the party, according to the resolution I had formed. However, Maria laughed me out of my scruples, and so once again I went to an assembly.”

  I objected to going, as I had resolved not to, but Maria teased me until I gave in, so I attended another assembly.

  Evelina's reluctance to attend social events is overcome by her friend's persuasion.

• “I could not help thinking it would be infinitely more desirable to dance again with him than with an entire stranger.”

  I couldn't help wishing to dance with Lord Orville again rather than with someone I didn't know.

  Evelina's preference for Lord Orville's company is evident.

• “I told him—yet I blush to write it to you!—that I was already engaged; by which I meant to keep myself at liberty to a dance, or not, as matters should fall out.”

  I told him—though I'm ashamed to write it—that I was already taken, intending to keep my options open.

  Evelina's white lie to avoid dancing with Sir Clement leads to complications.

• “Overpowered by all that had passed, I had not strength to make my mortifying explanation;—my spirits quite failed me, and I burst into tears.”

  Overwhelmed by the situation, I couldn't explain myself and broke down crying.

  Evelina's emotional distress at the exposure of her deception.

• “A hint was sufficient for Lord Orville, who comprehended all I would have explained. He immediately led me to a seat, and said in a low voice, 'Be not distressed, I beseech you: I shall ever think my name honoured by your making use of it.'”

  Lord Orville understood my predicament without further explanation, led me to a seat, and kindly said he was honored that I used his name.

  Lord Orville's gracious response to Evelina's embarrassment.