sun-like rays round the head of the image were of beaten gold. At
the lower end of the hall were two doors going into the butteries,
and kitchen, and other out-bowers; and above these doors was a loft
upborne by stone pillars, which loft was the sleeping chamber of the
goodman of the house; but the outward door was halfway between the
said loft and the hearth of the hall.

So the young man took the shoes from his feet and then sat watching
the women and lads arraying the boards, till Kettel came again to him
with an old woman bearing the ewer and basin, who washed his feet and
poured the water over his hands, and gave him the towel with fair-
broidered ends to dry them withal.

Scarce had he made an end of this ere through the outer door came in
three men and a young woman with them; the foremost of these was a
man younger by some two years than the first-comer, but so like him
that none might misdoubt that he was his brother; the next was an old
man with a long white beard, but hale and upright; and lastly came a
man of middle-age, who led the young woman by the hand. He was
taller than the first of the young men, though the other who entered
with him outwent him in height; a stark carle he was, broad across
the shoulders, thin in the flank, long-armed and big-handed; very
noble and well-fashioned of countenance, with a straight nose and
grey eyes underneath a broad brow: his hair grown somewhat scanty
was done about with a fillet of golden beads like the young men his
sons. For indeed this was their father, and the master of the House.

His name was Iron-face, for he was the deftest of weapon-smiths, and
he was the Alderman of the Dalesmen, and well-beloved of them; his
kindred was deemed the noblest of the Dale, and long had they dwelt