It had in former times been an inn, or farm-house, possibly a manor-house, and was large, with many small rooms, and short, narrow, crooked staircases, half-landings and narrow passages, and a few large rooms, their low ceilings resting on old oak beams, black as ebony.

Outside, it was the most picturesque and doubtless the oldest house in the village; many-gabled, with very tall ancient chimneys, the roofs of red tiles mottled grey and yellow with age and lichen.

It was a surprise to find a woodman--for that was what the man was--living in such a big place.

The woodman himself, his appearance and character, gave us a second and greater surprise.

He was a well-shaped man of medium height; although past middle life he looked young, and had no white thread in his raven-black hair and beard.