around the table for that fraction of an
hour,--

"Across the walnuts and the wine,"

all rise, and the gentlemen remain standing until the ladies leave the
room. The gentleman who had the honor of escorting the hostess into
the table, walks with her to the door; here she pauses to allow the
host's companion to pass through, when the host, who has escorted her
thither, returns to the table, the other gentlemen following his
example. The hostess is the last lady to leave the room, whereupon her
escort closes the door and returns to the table, where the gentlemen
group themselves carelessly at one end of the table, for that half
hour of conversation and cigars. Where wine is not used the gentlemen
frequently remain behind for smoking, and some hosts immediately
withdraw with them to the smoking-room. Coffee is frequently served in
the drawing-room, where the ladies have had their little chat after
the return thither of the gentlemen.

Informal and Easy.

The hostess, assisted by a daughter, or a young lady friend, usually
pours the beverage, and the gentlemen pass it around to the ladies,
thus forming the most delightfully informal groups for conversation.
Sugar is passed by a servant, or else the hostess drops two or three
lumps of it in each saucer, a sugar bowl, with sugar tongs, standing
beside her. Cream is not the correct thing for after-dinner coffee.

Very many hostesses, however, prefer to have coffee and fruits finish
the table menu, after which the entire party retire to the
drawing-room, where, for the half or three-quarters of an hour
preceding their departure, soft music from some hidden orchestra may
be permitted to fill the air with harmony. Occasionally, a little
programme is arranged of music and song, to fill this interval. But,
in many cases, and wisely, conversation is the preferred
entertainment.

French Terms.

Good taste now dictates that the bill of fare, where one is printed or
written, should be couched in the "King's English," yet, one is so
frequently thrown in positions where a knowledge of the French terms
so often used in such cases is somewhat of necessity, that a short
glossary of the same may be useful:

_Menu_ Bill of fare.
_Cafe et noir_ Black coffee.
_Cafe au lait_ Coffee with milk.

A dinner begins with,

_Huitres_ Oysters.

Followed by,

_Potage_