There was no
timber-work therein save the benches and chairs, a little about the
doors at the lower end that led to the buttery and out-bowers; and
this seemed to have been wrought of late years; yea, the chairs
against the gable on the dais were of stone built into the wall,
adorned with carving somewhat sparingly, the image of the Wolf being
done over the midmost of them. He looked up and down the Hall, and
deemed it some seventy feet over all from end to end; and he could
see in the dimness those same goodly hangings on the wall which he
had seen in the woodland booth.
She led him up to the dais, and stood there leaning up against the
arm of one of those stone seats silent for a while; then she turned
and looked at him, and said:
'Yea, thou lookest a goodly warrior; yet am I glad that thou camest
hither without battle. Tell me, Gold-mane,' she said, taking one of
his spears from his hand, 'art thou deft with the spear?'
'I have been called so,' said he.
She looked at him sweetly and said: 'Canst thou show me the feat of
spear-throwing in this Hall, or shall we wend outside presently that
I may see thee throw?'
'The Hall sufficeth,' he said.
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