midday
The noise of Fleet Street came up here only as the soothing murmur of the sea upon a beach ; and he himself sat motionless , the firelight falling upwards upon his young face , his eyes , and his curly hair . About him stood his familiar furniture , the grand piano a pool of glimmering dark wood in the background , the tall curtained windows suggestive of shelter and warmth and protection . Yet , if he had but known it , he was making an enormous choice . The letter was from the man he had met at midday , and he was deciding how to answer it . He was soothed and quieted by his loneliness , and his irritation had disappeared : he regarded the letter from a youthfully philosophical standpoint , pleased with his moderation , as the work of a fanatic ; he was considering only whether he would yield , for politeness ' sake , to the importunity , or answer shortly and decisively . It seemed to him remarkable that a mature and experienced man could write such a letter . At last he got up , went to his writing-table , and sat down .