Mr. Nilson

"The Japanese Quince,"_ by some definitions, is a character sketch of Mr. Nilson. In a brief scene, Galsworthy paints a fairly complete portrait of a well-to-do man who is out of touch with himself and others. His wealth and class is established in the first sentence: He is 'well known in the City "-the financial center of London-and though he right away notices the spring morning, he prefers to contemplate the price of Tintos-stock shares. While looking in an ivory-backed mirror, he is described physically as exhibiting "a reassuring appearance of good health,"' despite the aching feeling beneath his fifth rib. His life is rigid and ordered, a fact that can be deduced from the striking of the cuckoo clock that tells him he has exactly a half-hour to breakfast. When he goes out to the square to enjoy the morning, he walks around the circular...