request the servant to tell his mistress that Mrs. A. is in the
drawing-room, which message the hostess would understand to mean that
her presence is desired, and the introduction would then be made on her
appearing. An introduction, if made in this manner, could become the
basis of a future acquaintance, both ladies having had the option of
refusing the acquaintance of the other if so disposed; whereas a forced
introduction where no option is given would hardly count as the basis of
a future acquaintance unless the ladies thus introduced mutually
appreciated each other.

In the country a guest seldom has friends and acquaintances in the
neighbourhood, who are unknown to her hostess; if otherwise, the
hostess should give her guest the opportunity of seeing her visitor by
leaving them together when the call is made.

When a guest is present when the mistress of a house is receiving
callers, she should introduce them to her guest or her guest to them,
according to the rank of either (see Chapter II.).

When a lady is driving with a friend who is a stranger to the
acquaintance on whom she is calling, she should not take her into the
house with her while she makes her call, unless she is a young lady, or
unless there is some especial reason for introducing the two ladies to
each other, or unless both ladies have expressed a wish to become
acquainted with each other. Husbands and wives occasionally pay calls
together, but oftener they do not. A lady, as a rule, pays a call by
herself, unless she has a grown-up daughter, when she should accompany
her mother.

Occasionally two ladies, both intimate with the lady of the house, pay
their calls together. A family party, of father and mother and daughter,
or daughters, rarely call in town together, save under very exceptional
circumstances; but in the country a family party of three or four
would, as a matter of course, call together; it is country etiquette
to do so.

A considerable difference exists with regard to "Sunday calls," or
calling on Sundays. Ladies should not pay ceremonious calls on Sundays;
it would not be etiquette for an acquaintance to call on a Sunday, it
would rather be considered a liberty, unless she were expressly asked to
do so. Intimate friends, on the contrary, often make Sunday a special
day for calling, and therefore, ladies and gentlemen--more especially
gentlemen--extend their calling hours from three until six o'clock
on Sundays.

When a lad