eight
o’clock
Frequently , during the day , her niece ran upstairs , and , hovering round her , made sure she did not require anything . The friends of the family were at a loss for sufficiently laudatory phrases wherein to extol the virtues of Therese and Laurent . The Thursday receptions continued , the impotent old lady being present , as in the past . Her armchair was advanced to the table , and from eight o'clock till eleven she kept her eyes open , casting penetrating glances from one to another of her guests in turn . On the first few of these evenings , old Michaud and Grivet felt some embarrassment in the presence of the corpse of their old friend . They did not know what countenance to put on . They only experienced moderate sorrow , and they were inquiring in their minds in what measure it would be suitable to display their grief .