It was a small, low, creeper-covered place, built behind a sheltering spur of the hill, to protect it from the fierce winter gales and the driving spray of the sea.

Four latticed bedroom windows caught the early morning sun, and a stone porch shielded the front door, which opened directly into the sitting room.

There was shielded the front door, which opened directly into the sitting room.

There was nothing at all grand about the house,

but, thanks to Beatrice, it was neatly kept, and had an air of general comfort.

All articles likely to be broken by smallfingers were wisely put away,

or placed in father’s study,

a sanctum where no one might intrude without express permission;

but books, paint boxes were freely allowed, and each member of the family had a special shelf on which to keep his or her particular possessions.