four o'clock in the
morning
It was as if he were trying to say to us , `` None of you people -- least of all the confraternity -- knows how to live . Life is n't a calamity ; it 's a joke ; and to live properly you should meet life in its own spirit ; you should do exuberant and gay and gorgeous things , like me . '' And then when we had all come round , he rearranged all the furniture in his drawing-room for charades -LRB- showing no respect whatever for his satinwood suite -RRB- ; and after the charades he rolled up his Aubusson carpet and cleared the place for a dance that was ruin to his parquet floor . And we had supper ; and then more dancing till four o'clock in the morning . Of the dancing I remember nothing but Viola whirling round and round , as it were for ever , in Charlie Thesiger 's arms , and her dead-white face looking over his shoulder , as if she saw nothing , nothing whatever ; as if she were detached even from the arms that held her . My last recollection is of Jimmy 's face when Norah said to him , `` Oh , Jimmy , I _ love _ your dear little lions ! '' -- and Jimmy 's answer : `` Little lions -- yes -- they make me feel tall and majestic . ''