Page:Female Prose Writers of America.djvu/47

Rh “It is a convenient way of getting through our morning visiters [sic],” replied Mrs. Derrington. “We send round cards at the beginning of the season to notify our friends that we are at home on a certain morning, once a week. My day is Thursday. I sit in the drawing-room during several hours in a handsome demi-toilette. Full dress is not admissible, of course, at morning receptions. Any of my friends that wish to see me, take this opportunity; understanding that I receive calls at no other time. They are served with chocolate and other refreshments, brought in and handed to them soon after their arrival. They talk awhile, and then depart. There are some coming in, and some going out all the time, and no one staying long. The guests are chiefly ladies; few gentlemen of this city having leisure for morning visits. Still every gentleman manages to honour a lady’s reception day with at least one call during the season. I suppose you had no such things as morning receptions at the fort?”

“No, indeed,” replied Sophia; “our mornings were always fully occupied in attending to household affairs, and doing the sewing of the family. Afternoon was the time for walking or reading. But in the evening we all visited our neighbours, very much according to the fashion of Spanish tertulias.”

Next morning, when dressed for the reception, and seated in the drawing-room to wait for the first arrivals, Mrs. Derrington said to Sophia—”We shall now hear all about Mrs. Cotterell’s great party which came off last night. I have some curiosity to know what it was like, being her first since she came to live in this part of the town.”

“Do you visit her?” asked Sophia.

“Oh, no—not yet—and probably I never may. I am waiting to see if the Cotterells succeed in getting into society.”

“What society, dear aunt?” inquired Sophia.

“I see, Sophy, that I shall be much amused with your simplicity,” replied Mrs. Derrington; “or rather with your extreme newness. In using the word society, we allude only to one class, and that of course is the very best.”

“By that I understand a select circle of intellectual, refined,