Now, outwardly, it was a ruin, for the sky showed through the top-most arrow-slit of the keep—McCoul must have roofed in the part that he used at a lower level than that slit, which marked what had been the highest story. And of him and his daughter, and of Shaun Ammon, Gees could see nothing, though he stood at gaze by the gateway for some minutes. At last he went on, crossed the ridge beyond, and dropped down into Odder to see a squat, square grey house quite near the church, a dwelling of far too imposing a size and character to rank in with the cottages, though it was of less content, evidently, than Dowlandsbar. By its position and character, Gees decided it was the vicarage, and made his way there to pull at an old-fashioned bell-handle beside the pale, weathered oaken door, at which
