And there, on the threshold, she raised her eyes.

Inside, the building was six stories high, with four identical plain walls enclosing the broad central court.

The drab walls were corroded by yellowish spots and streaked by drippings from the roof gutters.

The walls went straight up to the eaves with no molding or ornament except the angles on the drain pipes at each floor.

Here the sink drains added their stains.