Q. I recently attended a dinner dance with another woman friend who is also divorced. Our table included several couples. Not once during the evening did any of the men at our table ask either one of us to dance. I found that incredibly rude, but my friend said their first obligation is to the women they came with who might not want them to dance with someone else. What do you think?

A. No question. It is a gentleman's duty to dance with any and all unescorted women seated at his table. Although the first dance should be with his date, the next ones should be with the women who came solo. No lady would object to this since it is expected behavior in polite society. The problem is that gentlemen, as opposed to men, are in short supply these days.

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