You must not crowd too closely around people
who are playing at cards. A courtier so
occupied had his patience tried by a short-sighted
long nosed gentleman, who constantly stooped
forward to see his hand. So he took out his
pocket-handkerchief and wiped his troublesome
neighbour's nose, exclaiming, "I beg your
pardon, monsieur, but I mistook your nose for
my own."

In family circles, old cards may be used; but
in society, new cards are indispensable. Young
ladies never play at cards, and it is bad taste for
a young man to remain constantly at a card-
table, when the ladies in the dancing-room are
in want of partners.

In the ball-room, the fashion of the "carnet,"
or memorandum-book, has extended from ladies
to gentlemen. As soon as the ball is open,
every cavalier inscribes all the ladies who deign
to favour him with a quadrille, up to the very
twentieth. A dancer inviting a lady will take
good care not to ask for the pleasure of dancing
with her; he will request the honour. When a
young man offers his hand to a lady, whether to
dance or to conduct her to the piano, he ought
not to present it completely open. In former
days the fist was offered. Great ladies, in their
châteaux, used to lean on the fists of their pages.
It was by the fist that the Bishop of Marseilles
conducted Madame de Sévigné when she visited
the sights of that city.

Dancers never remove their gloves, do not
permit themselves to squeeze a partner's hand,
nor to press it against them during the waltz
or the galop. When the lady desires to
discontinue either of those dances, the arm is
immediately withdrawn. If they are dancing
with a single lady, they manifest still more
reserve, and offer to hold her fan or her
handkerchief if either appear in her way. The quadrille
over, they present the arm, conduct her to her
place, and, with a very low bow, thank her for
the honour she has done them.

In France, a young lady must avoid the
appearance of conversing intimately with her
partner. It is uncivil, it is blamable, on the part
of the gentleman to endeavour to draw her into
such familiar intercourse. A gentleman should
avoid dancing too frequently with the same lady;
it would be remarked, and considered
fatuitous and foppish. It is polite to dance
occasionally with persons who are condemned by
their want of charms to the terrible penalty of
"doing tapestry," or figuring as wall-flowers
merely. They will be grateful to you for such
attentions, especially if you acquit yourself with
tact.

Many persons fancy themselves obliged to
appear in society; and, to meet this imaginary
obligation, they submit to privations which they
condemn their families to share. But they are
in a false position. There is no shame in
confessing to a limited income; but it is criminal
to display an outward appearance of wealth at
the expense of home comforts: perhaps of
necessaries. Remember the verse,

Moi qui n'ai pas diné pour acheter des gauts!
(I went without my dinner to purchase gloves.)

This folly of wishing to appear what one is not,
what a source is it of suffering and humiliation!
And it is so easy to avoid all those torments.

Finally, it seems droll that misunderstandings
should be possible respecting such simple
meanings as "Yes" or "No." Nevertheless, "Thank
you," in French, "Je vous remercie," means to
decline politely; in English, mostly, to accept.
A young lady who refuses a gentleman's offer of
marriage, is said "Le remercier," to thank him
for it. Therefore, my fair young readers, take
care never to say "No" when you mean "Yes."
To avoid all misconception, some persons, when
conversing with English, take the precaution of
saying, "Merci, oui," or "Merci, non."

NEW WORK BY MR. DICKENS,
In Monthly Parts, uniform with the Original Editions of
"Pickwick," " Copperfleld," &c.
Now publishing, PART IV., price 1s., of
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
IN TWENTY MONTHLY PARTS.
With Illustrations by MARCUS STONE.
London: CHAPMAN and HALL, 193, Piccadilly.

On the 15th of August will be published, bound in green
cloth, price 5s. 6d.,
THE ELEVENTH VOLUME.

Handsomely bound in red, price 8l.,
THE FIRST TEN VOLUMES,
WITH GENERAL INDEX.
Covers for binding may be had, green, price 1s. each;
red, price 1s. 6d. each.