"...While her clock reinforces its conceit
And her mirror checks out other things
The walls stand a little more at ease
And her books they chat so expertly
And her cups and saucers get some sleep
And things get all together neat
And at the clicking of the keys
Returns the horrible esthete."

When describing a person, an esthete is one who "cultivates an unusually high sensitivity to beauty, as in art or nature, or whose pursuit and admiration of beauty is regarded as excessive or affected." Which would explain why her apartment is so apprehensive about her return... I think.