But, in the present case, such a kind of shelter had been disregarded.

Higher Crowstairs, as the house was called, stood quite detached and undefended.

The only reason for its precise situation seemed to be the crossing of two footpaths at right angles hard by, which may have crossed there and thus for a good five hundred years.

Hence the house was exposed to the elements on all sides.
But, though the wind up here blew unmistakably when it did blow, and the rain hit hard whenever it fell, the various weathers of the winter season were not quite so formidable on the coomb as they were imagined to be by dwellers on low ground.

The raw rimes were not so pernicious as in the hollows, and the frosts were scarcely so severe.