dance.

At a large ball any formal leave-taking is unnecessary. To

"Fold your tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away,"

is quite the thing. Do not make such a stir by your going as to call
attention to your departure, apparently wishing others to take notice
of it.

The Escort.

The escort of a young lady owes her attention beyond all others he may
meet in the ball-room. He should assist her from the carriage,
accompany her to the dressing-room door, and after due time return to
escort her to the reception-room. He must be her partner in the
opening dance and should also put his name down for the one
immediately preceding supper, since it is expected that the gentleman
dancing with a lady then will take her out to supper, and there see
that all her wants are anticipated. If, for any reason, he cannot do
this, he must see that she is suitably attended; a gentleman taking a
lady into the supper-room must also escort her back to the ball-room
and leave her wherever she may desire.

If there should be any seeming neglect he must see that she is
provided with partners for as many dances as she may desire; never
dancing himself unless she, too, is on the floor, or, if she prefer,
sitting out the dance with some pleasant companion. He may introduce
other gentlemen to her, after asking her permission.

It is his privilege to send her a bouquet for the occasion, and he
first asks what the lady's costume is to be, in order to harmonize the
color of the flowers with the shade of the dress, since it would be
most annoying to send blue violets to be worn with a sea-green gown.

It is the lady's privilege to suggest the hour of departure. After
seeing her safely within her own door he should leave; even if she
asks him to enter he should politely refuse, remembering, however, to
call upon her within two days.

[Illustration: CONFIDENCES.]

Receiving Ladies.

Ladies called upon to assist in receiving are not to consider their
duties ended when they have supported the hostess through the trying
hours of standing to greet her guests, but are supposed (though they
too often fail in this) to mingle with the company, seeing that
strangers and timid or non-attractive girls are not allowed to remain
wall-flowers for any length of time. Bashful men, too, must not be
left without partners, and all should be provided with escorts to
supper.

These things are a part of the hostess' duty, but in a large
en