Yet
were they nought so deft craftsmen at the loom as were the Dalesmen,
and their women were not very eager at the weaving, though they
loathed not the spindle and rock. Shortly, they were merry folk
well-beloved of the Dalesmen, quick to wrath, though it abode not
long with them; not very curious in their houses and halls, which
were but little, and were decked mostly with the handiwork of the
Woodland-Carles their guests; who when they were abiding with them,
would oft stand long hours nose to beam, scoring and nicking and
hammering, answering no word spoken to them but with aye or no,
desiring nought save the endurance of the daylight. Moreover, this
shepherd-folk heeded not gay raiment over-much, but commonly went
clad in white woollen or sheep-brown weed.
But beyond this shepherd-folk were more downs and more, scantily
peopled, and that after a while by folk with whom they had no kinship
or affinity, and who were at whiles their foes. Yet was there no
enduring enmity between them; and ever after war and battle came
peace; and all blood-wites were duly paid and no long feud followed:
nor were the Dalesmen and the Woodlanders always in these wars,
though at whiles they were.
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