After the dance.
When the dance is over, and the partner left with her friends, the man says, “Thank you,” bows, and leaves her.
Seeing a lady to her carriage.
If he wishes to see any lady to her carriage, he asks her permission to do so, folds her wraps round her, hands her in, and stands until the carriage has gone some yards away.
ENGAGEMENT AND MARRIAGE.
The old-fashioned rule that a man must approach the father of a girl before offering himself in marriage to her has now, to some extent, died out.
A man may not propose when her family object.
At the same time it is considered dishonourable for any one to propose to a girl in the face of the decided disapprobation of her family. Clandestine courtship is also regarded as dishonourable, except in circumstances where the girl is unhappy or oppressed and needs a champion.
Proposal in person.
The usual way to ask for the admired one’s hand in marriage is in person. This is always preferable to writing, though some men have not the courage to adopt the first course.