ions to luncheon are issued by written notes
or are verbally given according to circumstances.

* * * * *

=Invitations to Luncheon.=--A week's notice is the longest usually
given, very little notice being considered requisite.

Many hostesses give their friends _carte blanche_ invitations to
luncheon; but ladies as a rule seldom avail themselves of this _facon de
parler_, as they consider it, and prefer to await a more direct form of
invitation. Gentlemen, on the contrary, are expected to avail themselves
of this proffered hospitality without ceremony, as the presence of a
gentleman visitor at luncheon is considered an acquisition, the reason,
perhaps, being that ladies are usually in the majority at luncheon, and
also that the unexpected arrival of one or two ladies would call for a
greater amount of attention on the part of a hostess seated at luncheon
than would the unexpected arrival of gentlemen, ladies requiring
especial attention to be shown to them in the matter of a place at
table, etc., while gentlemen are ready to offer attention instead of
requiring it, and to take any place at table, whether convenient or
otherwise.

As a rule, the number of ladies present at luncheon greatly exceeds the
number of gentlemen present, unless at a luncheon-party, when a hostess
usually endeavours to equalise the numbers as far as possible; but it is
not imperative for her to do this, and it is immaterial whether there
are as many gentlemen as ladies present at luncheon or not.

Luncheon is a very useful institution to a mistress of a house, as it
enables her to show a considerable amount of civility to her friends and
acquaintances.

She can invite to luncheon those it might not, for various reasons, be
convenient to invite to dinner; as for instance, young ladies, single
ladies, elderly ladies, ladies coming to town, or into the neighbourhood
for a few days only, and so on.

The usual rule in houses where there are children old enough to do so,
is for the children to dine at luncheon with their governess, whether
there are guests present or not.

* * * * *

=In Town the Usual Hour for Luncheon= is 1.30 to 2 o'clock; in the
country it is generally half an hour earlier. The guests are expected to
arrive within ten minutes of the hour named in the invitation, as
although punctuality is not imperative, it is very desirable.

A guest, on his or her arrival