for not doing so. She could, however, in the course of
conversation merely mention the name of each caller, so that each may
become aware of the name of the other. This is now often done when
formal introductions are not made. If the hostess possesses tact, and a
facility and readiness of speech, she should skilfully draw both callers
into the conversation (a subject which is fully enlarged upon in "The
Art of Conversing"). The hostess should not take this latter course
unless aware that the two visitors would be likely to appreciate
each other.

When one visitor arrives immediately after the other, the hostess should
converse equally with both visitors, and the lady who was the first to
arrive should be the first to leave, after a call of from ten to fifteen
minutes. When only one visitor is present the hostess should accompany
her to the door of the drawing-room, and linger for a few moments,
whilst the visitor is descending the stairs. To do so would not be
imperative, but it would be courteous. When the host is present he
should accompany the lady downstairs into the hall; this also is an
optional civility, and greatly depends upon the estimation in which the
lady is held by host and hostess.

When two visitors are present the hostess should rise and shake hands
with the departing visitor; but unless a person of greater consideration
than the visitor who still remained seated, she should not accompany her
to the drawing-room door.

One visitor should not rise from her seat when another is about to take
her leave. When visitors are acquainted with each other they should rise
and shake hands. When one of the visitors is a gentleman he should rise,
even if unacquainted with the lady who is about to take her leave; he
should not remain seated when the hostess is standing.

When two visitors, either two ladies or two gentlemen, have slightly
conversed with each other during a morning call, they should not shake
hands with each other on leaving, but should merely bow. When they have
not spoken to each other, they should not bow.

When they have been formally introduced they should still only bow,
unless the acquaintance has progressed into sudden intimacy through
previous knowledge of each other.

When one of the visitors present is a gentleman he should open the
drawing-room door for the departing visitor, but he should not accompany
her downstairs unless requested by the hostess to do so; the visitor
should bow t