In describing the interior of Mrs. Montgomery's residence, the narrator employs rich visual imagery and a metaphor referring to a bowerbird’s mating ritual:

She received him in a little parlor, which was precisely the parkour he had expected: a small unspeckled bower, ornamented with a desultory foliage of tissue-paper, and with clusters of glass drops, amid which—to carry out the analogy—the temperature of the leafy season was maintained by means of a cast-iron stove, emitting a dry blue flame, and smelling strongly of varnish. The walls were embellished with engravings swathed in pink gauze, and the tables ornamented with volumes of extracts from the poets, usually bound in black cloth stamped with florid designs in jaundiced gilt.

This passage captures the cramped, gaudy ambiance of a middle-class household of late-1800s New York. While the dwelling is not falling to pieces, the author does emphasize several visual cues of declining wealth and faded charm. The detailed imagery here, from the "desultory foliage of tissue-paper" to the "blue flame" of the stove that exudes a "powerful scent of varnish," paints a picture of the cramped and over-decorated interior. It's as though things that aren't of good quality are "varnished" over to make them seem better.

The space feels crowded and claustrophobic. Descriptions of overblown embellishment, including "pink gauze" and "jaundiced gilt," hint at an attempt at grandeur that is cheapened by the passage of time. “Jaundice” is a disease of the liver, which turns the skin of its victims a distinctive yellow color. By saying that the gilt is “jaundiced,” the author implies that it’s yellowing and sickly-looking. It's not real gold, as one would undoubtedly find decorating the Sloper residence.

Referring to the home as an "unspeckled bower" likens it to a bowerbird's nest. These birds collect brightly colored objects and sticks to attract a mate, hoping to entice them with a bright display. A “speckled bower” in this context is a location crafted for allure and attraction. However, the adjective "unspeckled" suggests a lack of beauty or appeal. Mrs. Montgomery’s house is not appealing or alluring, it’s overcrowded and worn-out. Through this metaphor, James underscores the setting's feeling of cheapness and the tired, diminished elegance of this home.