Altogether, it was a charming place.

However, adjoining it was a huge vacant lot with cows in it.

It was full of dry weeds and heaps of ashes, while around it was an enormous fence painted with signs of cigars, patent bitters, and soap.
Vandover stood at a front window and looked out on a rather dreary prospect.

The inevitable afternoon trades had been blowing hard since three, strong and brisk from the ocean, driving hard through the Golden Gate and filling the city with a taint of salt.

Now the fog was coming in; Vandover could see great patches of it sweeping along between him and the opposite houses.