They asked him what she was like.
He did not know enough Dutch to describe her properly; all he could tell them was she was a very beautiful woman, of medium size.

Evidently this did not satisfy them, the description was too general; any man could say that, and by this means perhaps get possession of a wife that did not belong to him.

They asked him how she was dressed; for the life of him he could not recollect.
I doubt if any man could tell how any woman was dressed ten minutes after he had left her.

He recollected a blue skirt, and then there was something that carried the dress on, as it were, up to the neck.
Possibly, this may have been a blouse; he retained a dim vision of a belt; but what sort of a blouse?
Was it green, or yellow, or blue?
Had it a collar, or was it fastened with a bow?
Were there feathers in her hat, or flowers?
Or was it a hat at all?
He dared not say, for fear of making a mistake and being sent miles after the wrong party.

The two young women giggled, which in his then state of mind irritated Harris.
The young man, who appeared anxious to get rid of him, suggested the police station at the next town.