P. Drury of Winchester asks: “A kind friend has invited me to a concert. Should I pay for my ticket?”

Artful Aoide, Muse of the String Quartet. This depends on how the invitation was made, and the nature of your friendship. You should offer (sheepishly?) to pay. And your kind friend will probably say: “No, no, it is my party.” You should then shut up, not persist or insist, and go ahead and enjoy the Mozart. Then you can (unostentatiously) insist on taking the friend out to supper, or returning the kindness in other ways. PH

David Agress, Newport Beach, California: “In these hard times, the lifting of any financial burden could be a very welcome relief.”

June Bastable, Weston-super-Mare: “Offer to reimburse, if said friend refuses to accept payment, say ‘Next time my treat’.”

Peta Andrews, South Chailey: “Offer to pay, but if this offer is rejected, then pay for the programmes and drinks.”

Dr John White, Dublin: “Young people tend to pay their own way in everything. The more mature set should, of course, offer to pay.”

Readers are invited to send their responses to this week’s question by Novemer 15. A selection will be printed in a fortnight.

What is the polite way to eat spaghetti?

Anthony Bryant, Battersea

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