He did not sport his oak--if people came to see him he would rather like it: in some odd way it would be more satisfactory than that he should go to see them--but people did not often come to see him.
He laid out his books on the table and sat down.

He had grown fond of this room.

The walls were distempered white.

The ceiling was old and black with age.

There was a deep red-tiled fireplace.