Beechcroft at Rockstone | Page 8

one, since fashion had
chosen them as a winter resort. Speculators blasted away such of the
rocks as they had not covered with lodging-houses and desirable
residences. The inhabitants of the two places had their separate
churches, and knew their own bounds perfectly well; but to the casual
observer, the chief distinction between them was that Rockstone was
the more fashionable, Rockquay the more commercial, although the
one had its shops, the other its handsome crescents and villas. The
station was at Rockquay, and there was an uphill drive to reach
Rockstone, where the two Miss Mohuns had been early
inhabitants---had named their cottage Beechcroft after their native
home, and, to justify the title, had flanked the gate with two copper
beeches, which had attained a fair growth, in spite of sea winds,
perhaps because sheltered by the house on the other side.
The garden reached out to the verge of the cliff, or rather to a low wall,
with iron rails and spikes at the top, and a narrow, rather giddy path
beyond. There was a gate in the wall, the key of which Aunt Jane kept
in her own pocket, as it gave near access to certain rocky steps, about
one hundred and thirty in number, by which, when in haste, the
inhabitants of Rockstone could descend to the lower regions of the
Quay.
There was a most beautiful sea-view from the house, which
compensated for difficulties in gardening in such a situation, though a
very slight slope inwards from the verge of the cliff gave some
protection to the flower-beds; and there was not only a little
conservatory attached to the drawing-room at the end, but the verandah
had glass shutters, which served the purpose of protecting tender plants,
and also the windows, from the full blast of the winter storms. Miss
Mohun was very proud of these shutters, which made a winter garden
of the verandah for Miss Adeline to take exercise in. The house was
their own, and, though it aimed at no particular beauty, had grown
pleasant and pretty looking by force of being lived in and made
comfortable.

It was a contrast to its neighbours on either side of its pink and gray
limestone wall. On one side began the grounds of the Great Rockstone
Hotel; on the other was Cliff House, the big and seldom- inhabited
house of one of the chief partners in the marble works, which went on
on the other side of the promontory, and some people said would one
day consume Rockstone altogether. It was a very fine house, and the
gardens were reported to be beautifully kept up, but the owner was
almost always in Italy, and had so seldom been at Rockstone that it was
understood that all this was the ostentation of a man who did not know
what to do with his money.
Aunt Adeline met the travellers at the door with her charming welcome.
Kunz, all snowy white, wagged his tight-curled tail amid his barks, at
sight of Aunt Jane, but capered wildly about the Sofy's basket, much to
Valetta's agony; while growls, as thunderous as a small kitten could
produce, proceeded therefrom.
'Kunz, be quiet,' said Aunt Jane, in a solemn, to-be-minded voice, and
he crouched, blinking up with his dark eye.
'Give me the basket. Now, Kunz, this is our cat. Do you hear? You are
not to meddle with her.'
Did Kunz really wink assent---a very unwilling assent?
'Oh, Aunt Jane!' from Val, as her aunt's fingers undid the cover of the
basket.
'Once for all!' said Aunt Jane.
'M-m-m-m-ps-pss-psss!' from the Sofy, two screams from Val and
Fergus, a buffeting of paws, a couple of wild bounds, first on a
chair-back, then on the mantelpiece, where, between the bronze
candlestick and the vase, the Persian philosopher stood hissing and
swearing, while Kunz danced about and barked.
'Take her down, Gillian,' said Aunt Jane; and Gillian, who had some
presence of mind, accomplished it with soothing words, and, thanks to

her gloves, only one scratch.
Meantime Miss Mohun caught up Kunz, held up her finger to him,
stopped his barks; and then, in spite of the 'Oh, don'ts,' and even the
tears of Valetta, the two were held up---black nose to pink nose, with a
resolute 'Now, you are to behave well to each other, from Aunt Jane.
Kunz sniffed, the Sofy hissed; but her claws were captive. The dog was
the elder and more rational, and when set down again took no more
notice of his enemy, whom Valetta was advised to carry into Mrs.
Mount's quarters to be comforted and made at home there; the united
voice of the household declaring that the honour of the Spitz was as
spotless as his coat!
Such was the first arrival at Rockstone,