irst even if guests are present, and others prefer the other
way; but always serve the ladies first, whether guests are there or not.
Slip out the cold plate and lay down the hot one at the right, as you
have before, and put the cold plates neatly in a pile on the sideboard.
Pass the vegetables next, offering them at the left, and then the bread
in the same way. While this course is eaten, carry out the soup-plates,
if they are still on the sideboard, and fill the glasses.

"When all have finished take off the roast first and carry it out; then
take off the soiled plates and lay down the salad-plates at the right,
as you have done each time, and pass the salad to the left. Take off
these when they are used, with the bread and butter plates, bread and
jelly, and crumb the table, using the knife and tray. Then lay down
before each one a dessert-plate with either a fork or a dessert-spoon on
it, or both, if the dish to come needs them; nowadays this is done even
where the dessert is served at one end of the table. If you can, pass
the pudding, or whatever the sweet is, so that each one can serve
himself, offering it at the left, of course. If it is very soft, or is
something difficult for one to manage in this way, then have the dish
put at one end of the table before your mother. She will put a portion
on the plate before her, removing the spoon as she does so and laying it
at one side, and you can set the plate down before the one you serve
first, exchanging the two plates; this person will also remove his spoon
and lay it down as the plate is slipped away. Stand on the right to do
this; then take the second plate for your mother to fill, and so on.

"It is a good plan to have one extra plate ready, and when you take the
first plate lay this down before your mother, and when you come back
with the second one this will be filled waiting, and you can exchange
the two, and so save time. There will be one over at the end, of course,
and this you can lay on the sideboard.

"When you have company, the coffee is served in the drawing-room, and
you must bring it in on a tray. But when you are alone, and wish to have
it on the table, take off the pudding-dish, when all have finished, and
then all the plates, and bring in the coffee-cups filled on the tray,
and set one down before each, from his right. If you use finger-bowls
after dinner, lay these down, too, a little above each place.

"This is a long lesson, and a difficult o