For as deft as
were the Woodlanders with knife and gouge on the oaken beams, even so
deft were the Dalesmen with mallet and chisel on the face of the hewn
stone; and this was a great pastime about the Thorp. Within these
houses had but a hall and solar, with shut-beds out from the hall on
one side or two, with whatso of kitchen and buttery and out-bower men
deemed handy. Many men dwelt in each house, either kinsfolk, or such
as were joined to the kindred.
Near to the gate of Burgstead in that street aforesaid and facing
east was the biggest house of the Thorp; it was one of the two
abovesaid which were older than any other. Its door-posts and the
lintel of the door were carved with knots and twining stems fairer
than other houses of that stead; and on the wall beside the door
carved over many stones was an image wrought in the likeness of a man
with a wide face, which was terrible to behold, although it smiled:
he bore a bent bow in his hand with an arrow fitted to its string,
and about the head of him was a ring of rays like the beams of the
sun, and at his feet was a dragon, which had crept, as it were, from
amidst of the blossomed knots of the door-post wherewith the tail of
him was yet entwined.
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