At ceremonious dinner-parties in town neither music nor cards are
introduced during the usual half-hour passed in the drawing-room before
the hour for departure.

At country-house dinner-parties music or round games of cards are in
request.

* * * * *

=Departure after Dinner.=--There is no rule as to the order in which the
guests should take their leave. Half-past ten is the usual hour for
general departure; and the butler announces the several carriages as
they arrive to the guests in the drawing-room. But if any lady wished to
inquire if her carriage had arrived, she should ask the hostess's
permission to do so; and the bell would be rung for the purpose of
making the enquiry. The same remark applies to ordering a cab: the lady
should ask the hostess if one might be ordered for her.

The hostess should shake hands with all her guests on their departure,
rising from her seat to do so.

Each guest on departure should shake hands with both host and hostess.

If, on leaving the room, acquaintances should pass each other, they
should wish each other good-night, but they should not make the tour of
the rooms for the purpose of so doing.

The host should conduct one or two of the principal of his lady guests
to their carriages.

The ladies should put on their cloaks in the cloak-room, the host
waiting in the hall meanwhile.

A gentleman related to the host or hostess, or a friend of the family,
could offer to conduct a lady to her carriage if the host were otherwise
engaged.

* * * * *

=Gratuities= should never be offered by the guests at a dinner-party to
the servants in attendance. Gentlemen should not offer fees to the
men-servants, neither should ladies to the lady's-maid in attendance.

The guests should call on the hostess within a week or ten days after a
dinner-party. If "not at home," a married lady should leave one of her
own cards and two of her husband's; a widow should leave one of her own
cards; a bachelor or a widower should leave two cards.

The rule as to calling after dinner-parties is greatly relaxed between
intimate friends, and the call often omitted altogether; and this more
particularly as regards gentlemen, whose occupations during the day are
considered good and sufficient reasons for not calling.

* * * * *

=Country Dinner-parties.=--In the country, new acquaintances, if
neighbours, sho