William James arrived one morning when the Callcotts were both out, and brought a little basket of persimmons and passion fruits for Harriet. As it happened, Somers also was out.
"I remember you said you like these date-plums, Mrs Somers. Over at our place we don't care for them, so if you like to have them you're welcome. And these are about the last of the passion fruit, seemingly."
The persimmons were good big ones, of that lovely suave orange-red colour which is perhaps their chief attraction, and they were just beginning to go soft. Harriet of course was enchanted. William James came in and sat down for a few minutes, wondering what had become of Victoria. He looked round the room curiously. Harriet had, of course, arranged it to her own liking, taken away all the pictures and ornaments, hung a Tunis curtain behind the couch, stood two tall red lacquer candlesticks on the mantelpiece, and altogether given the room that air of pleasant distinction which a woman who knows how to do it finds so easy, especially if she has a few shawls and cushion-covers and bits of interesting brass or china. Harriet insisted on travelling with a few such things. She was prepared to camp in a furnished bungalow or cottage on any continent, but a few of her own things she must have about her. Also she wore a dress of Bavarian peasant stuff, very thin black woollen material, sprinkled all over with tiny pink roses with green leaves. And on her feet she had heelless sandals of plaited strips of leather, from Colombo. William James noticed every one of these things. They had a glamour like magic for him.
"This is quite a pleasant room you have here," he said in his Cornish voice, with the alert, subtle, faintly smiling look of wonder on his face.
"It isn't bad," said Harriet. "But a bit poky."
"Poky you call it? Do you remember the little stone holes they have for rooms in those old stone Cornish cottages?"
"Yes—but we had a lovely one. And the great thick granite walls and the low ceilings."
"Walls always letting the damp in, can't keep it out, because all the chinks and spaces are just stuffed with plain earth, and a bit of mortar smeared over the outside
