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LETTER XVI EVELINA TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Queen Ann Street, Thursday morning, April 14. BEFORE our dinner was over yesterday Madame Duval came to tea; though it will lessen your surprise, to hear that it was near five o'clock, for we never dine till the dav is almost over. She was asked into another room while the table was cleared, and then was invited to partake of the dessert. She was attended by a French gentleman, whom she introduced'/ by the name of Monsieur Du Bois: Mrs. Mirvan received them/ both with her usual politeness; but the Captain looked very much/ displeased; and after a short silence, very sternly said to Madame) Duval, " Pray who asked you to bring that there spark with you?" "O," cried she, "I never go no where without him." Another short silence ensued, which was terminated by the Captain 's turning roughly to the foreigner, and saying, " Do you know, Monseer, that you are the first Frenchman I ever let come into my house?" Monsieur Du Bois made a profound bow. He speaks no Eng- ' lish, and understands it so imperfectly, that he might possibly imagine he had received a compliment. Mrs. Mirvan endeavoured to divert the Captain's ill-humour, by starting new subjects: but he left to her all the trouble of supporting them, and leant back in his chair in gloomy silence, except when any opportunity offered of uttering some sarcasm upon the French. Finding her efforts to render the evening agreeable were fruitless, Mrs. Mirvan proposed a party to Ranelagh. Madame Duval joyfully consented to it; and the Captain though he railed against the dissipation of the women, did not oppose it; and therefore Maria and I ran up stairs to dress ourselves. Before we wereready, word was brought us that Sir Clement Willoughby was in the drawing-room. He ...
