of inviting the "less worthy" to a home after. dinner has taken place, happens in P+P. Once Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy arrive at Rosings Mrs and Mrs Collins and Elizabeth, who up to now have been regular guests invited for dinner , are only invited to "an evening" by Lady Catherine( rude old bat that she was):

The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card-table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living of the neighbourhood in general was beyond the Collinses' reach.
Chapter 30

and :

Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasure of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they received any invitation thither -- for while there were visitors in the house they could not be necessary; and it was not till Easter-day, almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honoured by such an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church to come there in the evening...

The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact, almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, much more than to any other person in the room.
Chapter 31

The evening was of course, in our era , the time after the serving of tea (and inevitably coffee) and before the serving of supper. And do note,if the dinner was served fashionably late, the supper served to company was minimal: it would not be the hot supper served in Mrs Phillip's drawing room!