With regard to afternoon at-homes, the arrangements are quite different. Invitations are sent out a fortnight or three weeks before, generally the latter, and in the height of the season even longer.
Suppose the young man’s name to be Edward Smith. His invitation would be as follows:—
MR. EDWARD SMITH.
———
LADY DART
At Home,
Tuesday, November 3rd.
4 TO 7.
12, Evergreen Square.
R. S. V. P.
Accepting invitation.
He replies, on a sheet of notepaper:—“Mr. Edward Smith has much pleasure in accepting Lady Dart’s kind invitation for Tuesday afternoon, November 3rd.”
A great mistake.
It’s a great mistake to write:—“Will have much pleasure in accepting.” Accepting is the action of the present moment while he is writing the reply. “Will have” refers to the future, and is therefore unsuitable. The answering of invitations is a simple matter enough, but it is a test of good breeding.
AT THE PLAY.
The underbred man at the play.