midday
Mrs. Tarbury 's house , when she got to it , presented its usual Sunday afternoon appearance . The window curtains were up at all angles in the dining-room , hot sunshine streamed through the fly-specked panes , the draught from the open door drove a wild whirl of newspapers over the room . Cigarette smoke hung heavy upon the air . Julia peeped into the dark kitchen ; the midday meal was over , and a Japanese boy was hopelessly and patiently attacking scattered heaps of dishes and glassware . The girl was hungry , but the cooling wreck of a leg of mutton and the cold vegetables swimming in water did not appeal to her , and she went slowly upstairs , helping herself in passing to no more substantial luncheon than two soda crackers and a large green pickle . Mrs. Tarbury , dressed in a loose kimono , with her bare feet thrust into well-worn Juliet slippers , was lying across her bed , in the pleasant leisure of Sunday afternoon , a Dramatic Supplement held in one fat ringed hand , her head supported by her pillows in soiled muslin cases , and several satin and velvet cushions from a couch . In the room also were Connie Girard and Rose Ransome , who had a bowl of soapsuds and several scissors and orange-wood sticks on the table between them , and were manicuring each other very fastidiously .