First Section

The opening segment of "Melon" unfolds as an intriguing letter penned by a young British noble, Hamilton Lindsay, to his cousin Evelina in the year 1774. Lindsay, journeying across Europe with his mentor, Mr. Hawkins, finds his plans altered by Evelina’s suggestion, leading them to the sun-drenched city of Montpelier in southern France. In his observations, Lindsay notes the peculiar absence of a favored sport among the French, and comments candidly on the appearance of French women, whom he finds less than striking. He recounts a rare moment when a beautiful woman entered an inn near Lyons, prompting everyone present to rise and cheer. As nobility, Lindsay distinguishes "people of quality," who appear even more indulged than in England, from the common folk, who seem dirtier and less polished in comparison to their English counterparts.

Lindsay’s musings conclude with an ode to the melons of southern France, which thrive in abundance and surpass their carefully tended English counterparts in flavor. He confesses to indulging in these delightful fruits frequently.

Second Section

The narrative then leaps to August 1789, in the tumultuous dawn of the French Revolution, a fact not immediately disclosed. Sir Hamilton Lindsay, now an established aristocrat and husband to Evelina for a decade, is the focal point, although no longer the narrator. He is a prosperous landowner, preparing to join a cricket match in Dover.

As Sir Hamilton gears up to travel to Dover, excitement builds for the cross-Channel cricket match between England and France. This match, a blend of aristocrats and commoners, is applauded by cricket aficionados like Sir Hamilton for its inclusivity, though it unsettles some noble wives who find the mingling of classes unsettling.

Accompanied by his gardener, Samuel Dobson, Sir Hamilton sets off on a rainy August 6th, 1789. Dobson, perched atop the coach, is left to weather the storm, as Hamilton worries more for his precious cricket bats than for Dobson himself. During the journey, Lindsay reflects on Evelina’s concerns over traveling amid the brewing unrest in France.

The cricket match, orchestrated by John Sackville, third Duke of Dorset, was intended as a gesture of goodwill. However, the rising tensions prevent Dorset’s annual visit. Instead, he hopes to salvage the situation by arranging the match on English soil after fleeing from Paris’s volatile atmosphere.

As the British team nears Dover, they encounter Dorset, who reports the game’s cancellation. The British ambassador's abrupt escape from Paris underscores the severity of the situation, as Dorset hopes some French team members have found refuge in England for a possible match there.

Third Section

The narrative fast-forwards to a time when the French government has crumbled. King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette have met their grim ends in 1793. Allies of Sir Hamilton Lindsay from his cricket days have fallen in battles against the French. Sir Hamilton himself languished in a cell under Napoleon Bonaparte’s regime, held until a French officer, General de Rauzan, could be exchanged.

For three years, Lady Evelina Lindsay joined her husband in captivity, accompanied by Dobson, now the household’s majordomo. Known as the "chief forager," Dobson’s title hints at their reliance on scarce resources for survival.

Despite their dire circumstances, Sir Hamilton and Lady Lindsay wander the town under the watchful eye of a French guard. They attend church services every Sunday, even though Hamilton seldom considers himself a Catholic. The revolution’s fury left the town scarred, with the local church a target of their ire, priests either fled or forced to marry, and mules mockingly dressed as clergy paraded through the streets.

Sir Hamilton’s thoughts are as shattered...