The place looked mean and shabby in the strong sunlight, and, with feelings he had thought dead re-awaking, he was conscious of a sharp distaste.

There was a choice he must shortly make, and he knew what it would cost to take the line that might be forced on him.
It was with a certain shrinking he stopped his team in front of the hotel.

The bare windows were open and the door was hooked back, so that one could see into the hall, where a row of tin wash-basins stood on a shelf.

Dirty towels were scattered about, and the boarded floor was splashed.

The veranda, on to which the hall opened, was strewn with cigar-ends and burnt matches, and occupied by a row of cheap wooden chairs.