How late is it acceptable to arrive at a social event? Fifteen minutes? Twenty? Half an hour? Does there come a point when it is just too late to turn up at all? I confess to not being particularly consistent at timekeeping. I was mindful of this in mid-January when I was invited to a very special event at Spencer House: a recital by a string quartet from the London Symphony Orchestra. I am not known for my love of classical music, but two things appealed. First, the recital was to last a mere 35 minutes, leaving plenty of time to chat to the select group of attendees and to admire the 18th-century mansion. Second, I was invited by a senior banker in the City of London whose company I enjoy very much. Thus it was that I readily responded, and resolved to be on time.
在社交活动中，迟到多久是可以接受的？15分钟？20分钟？还是半个钟头？迟到多久最好干脆不要露面？是否存在这样的底限？我承认自己并不是一贯特别守时。1月中旬，我被邀请出席在斯宾塞宫(Spencer House)举办的一个极其特别的活动——伦敦交响乐团(London Symphony Orchestra)弦乐四重奏演奏会。当时我就意识到了自己这个缺点。我并不以喜爱古典音乐著称，但这次活动有两点很吸引人。首先，演奏只有35分钟，这样就有很多时间可以和组织方精心挑选的嘉宾们闲聊，顺道瞻仰这幢18世纪的建筑。其次，邀请我的是伦敦金融城的一位高级银行家，我极为欣赏此人所效力的公司。于是我欣然应允，并决心准时前往。