tess. Judge, then, of her
disappointment, when, at the last moment, some delinquent sends in a
hasty regret leaving little or no time to fill that terror of all
dinner-givers, that skeleton at the feast, an empty chair. One such
failure is sufficient to ruin the most carefully-arranged table and is
an injury to host and hostess that only the occurrence of some
unforeseen calamity can justify.

[Illustration: ANSWERING AN INVITATION.]

In answering an invitation it is well to repeat the date, as: "Your
kind invitation for Tuesday, May fifth." This will give an
opportunity, if any mistakes have been made in dates, to rectify them
at once. This caution it would be well to observe in answering any
invitation.

Answer decisively as well as promptly. Do not, if there is a doubt as
to your being able to attend, selfishly keep the lists open in your
favor by suggesting that "You hope to have the pleasure," etc., or, if
married, that "one of us will come." This is an injustice to those
inviting you, who, to make a success of their entertainment, must know
at once the number to be depended upon. Say "yes" or "no" promptly and
abide by your decision. To do this will, in case of refusal, give time
to fill your place at table.

Accepting a Dinner Invitation.

In accepting a dinner invitation the following form is very suitable.
This, of course, presupposes that the invitation has also been written
in the third person. (See Invitations.)

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Pratt accept with pleasure the kind
invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Potter for dinner on
Tuesday, December fifteenth, at eight o'clock. 24
Abercrombie Street. Wednesday.

A gentleman might respond thus:

Mr. Fremont Miller has much pleasure in accepting the very
kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Potter for dinner on
Tuesday, December fifteenth, at eight o'clock. Union League
Club. Wednesday.

To answer a formal invitation carelessly and familiarly is to show a
degree of disrespect to the sender, but, if the invitation be in note
form, first person, answer in same fashion, it being usually safe to
follow the style of invitation in either accepting or refusing the
proffered pleasure.

Never "present one's compliments" in response to an invitation. It is
entirely out of date; neither should one say "the _polite_ invitation
of Mr. John Jones." All invitations are presupposed to be "polite."
"Your kind" or "very kind invitati