restaurant meals
If your week-end hosts take you out to dinner in a restaurant, you do not offer to pay the check or part of it. Even if you know this is a con­siderable expense on a rather limited budget, you also know your hosts planned it for you.
If, on the other hand, there is occasion for you to suggest taking them out to dinner and they accept, you let them have no part in paying.

guests in general
You never mention that your visit seems to be causing a lot of extra trouble for your hosts, apparent as that may be. They've asked you to come because they wanted you. They've made plans for your enjoy­ment, and if they seem to work hard at it, they are doubtless more than willing to do so. Be all the help you can, and then just sit back and enjoy the whole visit. That's the surest way to make your hosts feel glad they asked you and that nothing which gives such real enjoyment is too much bother. An apologetic guest is almost as painful as an apolo­getic host or hostess.

may i bring my house guest?
If you're invited to a party on a week end when you're entertaining a house guest or guests and you've set up no engagement which would interfere, do you accept and ask to bring your guest? Not unless you know the person who's asking you very well, well enough so that she can turn you down if it's impossible for her to include an extra person or two. To anyone you know less well you can say how sorry you are to refuse but you will have house guests for the week end. The person who has asked you can then include your guests if she wants to and you (an accept because you know she has done it voluntarily. If you're in­vited by someone you scarcely know, you simply refuse regretfully, not explaining. It would be an imposition on any hostess for acquaintances to ask to include strangers in the invitation.

the worn-out welcome
Go home from a week end or a party in good time. You will make yourself a more popular guest if you leave earlier than you were ex­pected to. The hosts ought not to have to make guests aware that it is time to go; any guest can easily sense it.

bread and butter
It isn't necessary for you to do more than say your thanks as you leave a dinner party, but to a hostess, a little note from a grateful guest a day or so later is heartwarming. It's so little trouble for you and so reward­ing to the hostess. Remember, this note is always handwritten.