These may be divided under three heads: those of ceremony, friendship,
and congratulation or condolence. Visits of ceremony, or courtesy, which
occasionally merge into those of friendship, are to be paid under
various circumstances. Thus, they are uniformly required after dining at
a friend's house, or after a ball, picnic, or any other party. These
visits should be short, a stay of from fifteen to twenty minutes being
quite sufficient. A lady paying a visit may remove her boa or
neckerchief; but neither her shawl nor bonnet.
When other visitors are announced, it is well to retire as soon
as possible, taking care to let it appear that their arrival is
not the cause. When they are quietly seated, and the bustle of
their entrance is over, rise from your chair, taking a kind
leave of the hostess, and bowing politely to the guests. Should
you call at an inconvenient time, not having ascertained the
luncheon hour, or from any other inadvertence, retire as soon as
possible, without, however, showing that you feel yourself an
intruder. It is not difficult for any well-bred or even
good-tempered person, to know what to say on such an occasion,
and, on politely withdrawing, a promise can be made to call
again, if the lady you have called on, appear really
disappointed.