He seemed to be sunk in stern, prophet-like meditation.

As a matter of fact, he was asleep after a heavy meal.
Across, seated on a pouffe on the other side of the fire, was a cameo-like girl with neat black hair done tight and bright in the French mode.

She had strangely-drawn eyebrows, and her colour was brilliant.
She was hot, leaning back behind the shaft of old marble of the mantel-piece, to escape the fire.

She wore a simple dress of apple-green satin, with full sleeves and ample skirt and a tiny bodice of green cloth.

This was Josephine Ford, the girl Jim was engaged to.
Jim Bricknell himself was a tall big fellow of thirty-eight.