three o'clock in the morning
She grew at last so weak that , unable even to perform her part at the card-table , Lady Mary was obliged to deal , hold her cards and sort them for her , while she could just take them out one by one and drop them on the table . Whist and quadrille became too laborious to her weakened intellects , but loo supplied their places and continued her amusement to the last , as reason or memory were not necessary qualifications to play at it . Her acquaintances she found at length began to absent themselves , but she re-animated their charity by making frequent entertainments for them , and was reduced to order genteel suppers to enliven the evening , when she herself was obliged to retire to her bed . Though it was for a considerable time doubtful whether she should live till morning , it was no damp to the spirits of any of the company from which she had withdrawn , except to Lady Mary , who , with an aching heart , was obliged to preside every evening at the table , and to share their unfeeling mirth , till two or three o'clock in the morning . She was greatly afflicted with the thought of her aunt 's approaching death , whose indulgence to her , however blameable , had made a deep impression on her heart ; as this gave a more serious turn to her mind , she could not see Lady Sheerness 's great insensibility to what must happen after death without much concern . The great care that was taken to rob her of leisure to reflect on matters of such high importance shocked her extremely ; and she was disgusted with the behaviour of those she called her friends , who she plainly perceived would have fallen into total neglect of her had she not found means to render her house more amusing to them than any into which they could enter . She now saw that friendship existed not without esteem ; and that pleasurable connections would break at the time they were most wanted .