its widest, to wit where Wildlake fell into it, was but nine furlongs
over, but at Burgstead it was far narrower; so that betwixt the wall
and the wandering stream there was but a space of fifty acres, and
therein lay Burgstead in a space of the shape of a sword-pommel: and
the houses of the kinships lay about it, amidst of gardens and
orchards, but little ordered into streets and lanes, save that a way
went clean through everything from the tower-warded gate to the
bridge over the Water, which was warded by two other towers on its
hither side.

As to the houses, they were some bigger, some smaller, as the
housemates needed. Some were old, but not very old, save two only,
and some quite new, but of these there were not many: they were all
built fairly of stone and lime, with much fair and curious carved
work of knots and beasts and men round about the doors; or whiles a
wale of such-like work all along the house-front. 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