y is acquainted with the daughters of a family only, and not
with their father or mother, she should call on the daughters, who
should at once introduce her to their mother on the next occasion of
calling. If the mother is not present, the lady calling should leave
cards for her; and at all morning calls, when the daughters of the house
receive a ceremonious visit from an acquaintance, in the absence of
their mother, whether from indisposition or any other cause, cards
should be left for her in the hall before leaving by the lady calling
(see Chapter III.).

In all cases, when "morning calls" are made, and the lady called on is
not at home, cards should be left according to the etiquette described
in Chapter II., an etiquette which should be strictly observed; when the
lady called on is "at home," cards should be left for the gentlemen of
the family, according to the same rules of card-leaving, which cannot be
too punctiliously followed.

A mistress of a house should inform her servant after or before
luncheon, or before the hours for calling, whether she intends to be "at
home" to visitors or not during the afternoon.

"Not at home" is the understood formula expressive of not wishing to
see visitors.

"Not at home" is not intended to imply an untruth, but rather to signify
that for some reason, or reasons, it is not desirable to see visitors;
and as it would be impossible to explain to acquaintances the why and
the wherefore of its being inconvenient to receive visitors, the formula
of "Not at home" is all-sufficient explanation, provided always that a
servant is able to give a direct answer at once of "Not at home" when
the query is put to him. If a servant is not sure as to whether his
mistress wishes to see visitors or not, it is almost a direct offence to
the lady calling if he hesitates as to his answer, and leaves her either
sitting in her carriage or standing in the hall, while "He will see if
his mistress is 'at home,'" perhaps returning with the unsatisfactory
answer that she is "Not at home"; in which case the intimation is almost
received as a personal exclusion rather than as a general exclusion
of visitors.

If a lady is dressing to go out when a visitor calls, the servant can
mention that fact to a visitor calling, and offer to ascertain if his
mistress will see the caller; and the caller should use her own
discretion as to whether she will allow him to do so or not; but unless
the visit is one of i