he undesirable reputation of being "not a good hostess" is not
"good" in a variety of ways; she means well and does her utmost to
succeed, but by some contrariety of the laws which regulate domestic and
social affairs, the results of her efforts are always the reverse of
what she would have them be. The lady who is not a good hostess
sometimes suffers from shyness and reserve which renders her stiff in
manner when she would most desire to be cordial, silent when she would
be most loquacious, and awkward when she would be at ease.

As there are many reasons why ladies prove to be good hostesses, so
there are many reasons why they prove bad hostesses, selfishness and
want of consideration for others contribute to these, as do
procrastination and a vague idea of the value of time. Ladies with such
faults and weaknesses as these produce very much the same impression
upon their guests, although, perhaps, one is a little less culpable than
is the other.

* * * * *

=The selfish hostess is a bad hostess=, because, providing she is
amused, she is utterly indifferent as to whether her guests are amused
or not, her own pleasure and gratification being of paramount
importance. Instead of being in readiness to receive her guests she
descends late to the drawing-room to welcome them, and is indifferent as
to whether there is any one to greet them or not.

* * * * *

=The procrastinating hostess=, although she is equally in fault, yet, as
she hastens to excuse herself, when lacking in politeness to, or
consideration for her guests, her excuses are sometimes admitted; but
the selfish hostess, if she deigns to excuse herself, does so with such
a palpable show of indifference as to her guests' opinion of her
actions, that the excuse is oftener than not an aggravation of the
offence. A lady who has no regard for time goes to her room to dress at
the moment when she should be descending to the drawing-room; or she
remains out driving when she should be returning; or she puts off making
some very important arrangement for the comfort or amusement of her
guests until it is too late for anything but a makeshift to be thought
of, if it has not to be dispensed with altogether. Everything that she
does or projects is on the same scale of procrastination; her
invitations, her orders and engagements, are one and all effected
against time, and neither herself nor her guests gain th