Alone among the three of us, I lifted pastry to lips using my fingers and held each successively smaller remainder until all was consumed. (I promise you I did not lick my fingers clean when finished.

My friends made their choices, placed pastries on plates and proceeded to dissect cream-filled puff pastries with fork and knife, conveying the morsels to the lips with the fork. Alone among the three ...

Dear Miss Manners: A genteel, proper tea at a traditional hotel requires one to sit demurely at a table too diminutive for any other posture, while awaiting the arrival of the scones, cream and jam.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A genteel, proper tea at a traditional hotel requires one to sit demurely at a table too diminutive for any other posture, while awaiting the arrival of the scones, cream and jam.