Evelina

by Frances Burney

for, notwithstanding he had been too weak to resist the allurements of beauty,

the "danger" of female beauty

When young people are too rigidly sequestered from it, their lively and romantic imaginations paint it to them as a paradise of which they have been beguiled; but when they are shown it properly, and in due time, they see it such as it really is, equally shared by pain and pleasure, hope and disappointment.

reality vs fantasy / value of experience

But the time draws on for experience and observation to take the place of instruction:

experience again

You desire my opinion of her. She is a little angel! I cannot wonder that you sought to monopolize her:

the letters allow us to see that multiple people admire evelina

EVELINA TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Howard Grove, March 26.

different style - exclamation points!

I have only to hope, that the liveliness of your fancy may not deceive you: to refuse, would be raising it still higher.

the trials of parenthood

for we have had no time to Londonize ourselves;

"Londonize"

I have hardly time to breathe-only just this, the houses and streets are not quite so superb as I expected.

already not living up to expectations

Such ease! such vivacity in his manner! such grace in his motions! such fire and meaning in his eyes!-I could hardly believe he had studied a written part, for every word seemed to be uttered from the impulse of the moment. His action-at once so graceful and so free!-his voice-so clear, so melodious, yet so wonderfully various in its tones!-Such animation!-every look speaks!

the power of acting/the theater

This morning we went to Portland chapel; and afterwards we walked in the mall of St. James's Park, which by no means answered my expectations:

not meet expectations again

and I thought it so provoking, that I determined in my own mind that, far from humouring such airs, I would rather not dance at all, than with any one who would seem to think me ready to accept the first partner who would condescend to take me.

it was then I saw that the rank of Lord Orville was his least recommendation, his understanding and his manners being far more distinguished.

rank least important?

"He! he! he! very good, 'pon honour!" cried the fop;-"well, so I could have sworn by her manners."

what a dick

"Whether ignorant or mischievous, I will not pretend to determine; but certain it is, she attended to all I could say to her, though I have really fatigued myself with fruitless endeavours to entertain her, with the most immovable gravity; but no sooner did Lovel begin his complaint, than she was seized with a fit of laughing, first affronting the poor beau, and then enjoying his mortification."

proves that he was lying through his teeth about it being his pleasure

We are just returned from the play, which was King Lear, and has made me very sad.

haha sums up King Lear

I cannot imagine why the family was so rejoiced at his return. If he had spent his whole life abroad, I should have supposed they might rather have been thankful than sorrowful.

snarky!

"But no!" cried he (again, and with warmth,) "It cannot be that you are so cruel! Softness itself is painted in your eyes.-You could not, surely, have the barbarity so wantonly to trifle with my misery."

all these guys seem like dicks

"That lady, Sir," said the Captain coldly, "is her own mistress." And he walked sullenly on.

probably not meant to be liked but I was like, yeah that's right!

He stopt her but with so many urgent entreaties that she at last told me, I must either go down one dance, or avoid his importunities by returning home.

wow 18th century harassment

I glowed with indignation. "No, Sir-it is your absence, and that alone, can set everything right."

tell him girl

Willoughby,

Willoughbys do not come off so well

except the Captain, who has a fixed and most prejudiced hatred of whatever is not English.

of course he hates everything not English

"Have I care, my dear!" said she, smiling: "it is sometimes dangerous to make requests to men who are too desirous of receiving them."

advice about men