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.A servant at the door must never take the cards in his or her fingers.76CORRECT NUMBER OF CARDS TO LEAVEWhen the visitor herself rings the door-bell and the message is not at home, thebutler or maid proffers the card tray on which the visitor lays a card of her own andGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com ETIQUETTE IN SOCIETY, IN BUSINESS, IN POLITICS AND AT HOME69her daughter s for each lady in the house and a card of her husband s and son s foreach lady and gentleman.But three is the greatest number ever left of any one card.In calling on Mrs.Town, who has three grown daughters and her mother living inthe house, and a Mrs.Stranger staying with her whom the visitor was invited to aluncheon to meet, a card on each would need a packet of six.Instead, the visitorshould leave three one for Mrs.Town, one for all the other ladies of the house,and one for Mrs.Stranger.In asking to be received, her query at the door should be Are any of the ladies at home? Or in merely leaving her cards she should say For all of the ladies. 77WHEN THE CALLER LEAVESThe butler or maid must stand with the front door open until a visitor re-enters hermotor, or if she is walking, until she has reached the sidewalk.It is bad mannersever to close the door in a visitor s face.78When a chauffeur leaves cards, the door may be closed as soon as he turns away.79WHEN THE LADY OF THE HOUSE IS AT HOMEWhen the door is opened by a waitress or a parlor-maid and the mistress of thehouse is in the drawing-room, the maid says This way, please, and leads the way.She goes as quickly as possible to present the card tray.The guest, especially if astranger, lags in order to give the hostess time to read the name on the card.80The maid meanwhile moves aside, to make room for the approaching visitor, whogoes forward to shake hands with the hostess.If a butler is at the door, he reads thecard himself, picking it up from the tray, and opening the door of the drawing-roomannounces: Mrs.Soandso, after which he puts the card on the hall table.81The duration of a formal visit should be in the neighborhood of twenty minutes.But if other visitors are announced, the first one on a very formal occasion maycut her visit shorter.Or if conversation becomes especially interesting, the visitmay be prolonged five minutes or so.On no account must a visitor stay an hour!82A hostess always rises when a visitor enters, unless the visitor is a very youngwoman or man and she herself elderly, or unless she is seated behind the tea-tableso that rising is difficult.She should, however, always rise and go forward to meeta lady much older than herself; but she never rises from her tea-table to greet aman, unless he is quite old.83If the lady of the house is at home but upstairs, the servant at the door leads thevisitor into the reception room, saying Will you take a seat, please? and thencarries the card to the mistress of the house.84On an exceptional occasion, such as paying a visit of condolence or inquiring fora convalescent, when the question as to whether he will be received is necessarilydoubtful, a gentleman does not take off his coat or gloves, but waits in thereception room with his hat in his hand.When the servant returning says eitherGet any book for free on: www.Abika.com ETIQUETTE IN SOCIETY, IN BUSINESS, IN POLITICS AND AT HOME70 Will you come this way, please? or Mrs.Town is not well enough to see anyone, but Miss Alice will be down in a moment, the visitor divests himself of hiscoat and gloves, which the servant carries, as well as his hat, out to the front hall.85As said before, few men pay visits without first telephoning
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