though she may say "My mother would be pleased to have you call on us,"
The mother must then meet and assist, for a time at least, in entertaining
him.

A first call must always be returned. Afterwards the acquaintance need not
be continued.

"Not at home" is no discourtesy to a caller if she is so informed when the
maid opens the door. The maid should know whether her mistress wishes to
see callers or not.

P. p. c. on a card means "To take leave," and intimates your friend is
leaving town for a season.

It is customary for mother and daughter to use a card on which hath names
appear when calling together. A debutante, in our most conventional
society, has no separate card of her own. If she calls without her mother,
she uses this double card, running a pencil mark lightly through her
mother's name.

Sisters may use a card in common; it should be engraved "The Misses
Jones," and used when calling together or sending gifts.

The divorced woman, if she drops her husband's name by permission of the
court, uses her maiden name on her cards, with the prefix Mrs. If she
retains her husband's name, she usually combines her family name with it,
as Mrs. Jones Brown.

A card should never be handed to a hostess or any member of the family.
Lay it on the table. If a member of the family opens the door, a card need
not be used, though one is often left as above.

At afternoon teas, receptions and "At Homes" the visitor leaves a card for
the hostess on the tray in the hall, and one for the guest of honor, or
the debutante if one is being introduced.

A card to an "At Home" or an afternoon reception does not require either
acceptance or regret. If the person invited attends she leaves her card;
if not, she sends it by mail to reach the home on the day of the
reception.

[784 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

An invitation to a dinner must be answered immediately, and
unconditionally accepted or declined.

If, having accepted, it becomes absolutely impossible to keep the
engagement, the earliest possible notice must be given to the hostess.

It is unpardonable to be late at a dinner party. Arrivals are expected
within ten minutes of the hour named.

One wears the best she has that is suitable for a dinner party.

The reply to an invitation must follow the style of the invitation. If
formal, that is, in the third person, the reply must also be in the third
person. If informal, the personal form being employed, the reply is also