Nearly all of them walked hurriedly, too intent upon their destinations to be more than half aware of the wayside; they wore the expressions of people under a vague yet constant strain.

They were all lightly powdered, inside and out, with fine dust and grit from the hard-paved streets, and they were unaware of that also.

They did not even notice that they saw the smoke, though the thickened air was like a shrouding mist.

And when Bibbs passed the new "Sheridan Apartments," now almost completed, he observed that the marble of the vestibule was already streaky with soot, like his gloves, which were new.
That recalled to him the faint odor of gasolene in the coupe on the way from his brother's funeral, and this incited a train of thought which continued till he reached the vicinity of his home.

His route was by a street parallel to that on which the New House fronted, and in his preoccupation he walked a block farther than he intended, so that, having crossed to his own street, he approached the New House from the north, and as he came to the corner of Mr.Vertrees's lot Mr.Vertrees's daughter emerged from the front door and walked thoughtfully down the path to the old picket gate.