H. Bedford-Jones

“ Brought face to face with pear and walnut trees, as it were, I lost enthusiasm: fishing, tinkering with old furniture, and painting suited my lazy inclination a good deal better.
"I'll get something to eat," I said, knocking out my pipe into the water, "then I'll try out the launch and visit the neighbors, and see about renting the orchard. It has a crop on right now, so it ought to be a good thing."
I trudged back up the path, and when I reached the house I noticed a curious thing. The foundations were of cement, and a low cement wall-foundation ran the full length of the front veranda. ”

“ There were two rosewood pianos, one an importation from Holland; several ancient clocks, with original glass, in running order; the chairs were fiddlebacks of crotch-mahogany: there were two satinwood cabinets, genuine Sheratons. ”

“ I am not superstitious, and I had no objections to this scheme of decorations on personal grounds: but it struck me that Balliol had carried his search for novelty just a bit too far.
"It's only a step from beaux arts to bizarre." I reflected. "and my friend Balliol seems to have taken the step. Where did he get 'em. I wonder? Two—four—six—an even half-dozen! Wonder if he put any more inside? I didn't notice them—"
I hastened inside the house, my thoughts on the big hearth and chimney of cobbles ”