按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s agone a child was lost and seen last near her door； ay； and never seen again。 When we came to question her she cursed at us for meddling mischief…makers； and would but glare and spit； and swear she knew naught of the misbegotten brat。〃
〃Maybe 'twas true eno'；〃 said Martin。 〃I hate these rough…cast witch…findings … 'tis not a matter for man's judgment； unless 'tis sworn and proven in court before the Justiciary。〃
〃Nay；〃 joined in an old man； 〃what need of a Justice when God speaks？ We did but thole her to the river to see if she would sink or swim。 The witch did swim； as all can testify； her Master helping her； and seeing that； we drew her under … ay； and see her now as she lies； and say whether the Devil hath not set a mark on his own？〃
Martin wrung his hands。
〃For the love of Christ； lay her decently on her pallet； and say no word of this to yon holy man。〃
Moved by his earnest manner； one or two more kindly folk busied themselves unfastening the ropes and thongs which bound the witch； and bore her to her wretched bed。
The people； in their previous eagerness； had torn down the front of the miserable hovel she called home； so all men could see the poor place and its dead dishonoured mistress。
Martin； finding his bidding accomplished； turned to meet Hilarius and the Friar who were now coming slowly across the windswept common。 March mists gathered and draped the sluggish river； the dry reeds rattled dismally in the ooze and sedge。 Hilarius shivered； and the Friar started nervously when Martin spoke。
〃Friar；〃 he said； 〃God comfort thee！ After all thy pains thou art too late to speed thy mother's soul； she passed to…day； and lies even now awaiting burial at thy faithful hands。〃
The Friar drew a quick breath； and Hilarius questioned Martin with a look。 The crowd parted to let them through； and hung their heads abashed in painful silence as the Friar； led by Hilarius； gave his blessing。
They were close to the mean hovel now； and he turned to Martin。
〃Didst thou hear of her end； or did she die alone； for the people feared her？〃
〃Ay； she died alone；〃 answered Martin； and muttered； 〃now God forgive me！〃 under his breath。
As they went into the wretched shed the setting sun broke through the lowering grey clouds and shone full on the dead woman。 It lighted each vicious line and hideous trait of the wrinkled； toothless face； and betrayed the mark of an evil life； surcharged with horrid fear。
Hilarius shrank back shuddering。 Could this hideousness be death？ The Friar stepped forward； but Martin stayed him。
〃Nay； touch her not； Father； it may be the pestilence as thou didst read in thy dream。〃
The Friar fell on his knees； and； in the silence that followed was heard the drip； drip； drip； from the sodden rags on the beaten earth floor。 The people without； staring； open…mouthed and silent； saw the Friar look up； his hand hastily outstretched touched the dank； muddy hair； then he knew all； and fell on his face with an exceeding bitter cry。 It was answered by another cry … the glad cry of a lost child that is found。
The Friar； standing in front of that hovel of death； preached to the cringing； terrified people； many of whom knelt and crouched in the down…trodden grass and quag。 He threw up his arms； and turned his blind； anguished face to the setting sun。
〃Woe to the rebellious children； saith the Lord； that take counsel but not of Me； that they may add sin to sin。 Darkness shall come upon them； Death shall overtake them； their place shall know them no more。 Let them bare their backs to the scourge； let them confess and repent ere I visit them as I visited Sodom and Gomorrah； cities of the Plain。
〃O ye people； ye have taken judgment in your hands and judged falsely withal； but ye shall be judged in truth； yea； even according to your measure。 Repent； repent； for Death cometh swiftly and maketh no long tarrying。 It shall come； it shall snatch men's souls away； even as ye have torn away my mother's soul； leaving no space for repentance。〃
He stretched his hands out over the common； and pointed to the little town。
〃Your dwellings shall be desolate； and this place a place of heaps。 Ye shall run hither and thither； seeking safety and finding none； for the arm of the Lord is stretched out still because of the wickedness of the earth。 Woe； woe； woe； a disobedient and gainsaying people！ Woe； woe； woe； a people hating righteousness and loving iniquity！ The Lord shall straightway destroy them from off the face of the earth。〃
He made an imperative gesture of dismissal； and first one and then another in the crowd turned to slink home like beaten dogs； snarling； growling； but afraid。
Hilarius and Martin buried the witch at the back of her wretched den； and the Friar； the priest lost in the son； prayed long by the else unhallowed grave； and Martin prayed beside him。
Hilarius stood apart； his lips set straight； and said no prayer； for what availed it to pray for an unassoilzied witch who had met her due； damned alike by God and man？
Martin came up to him。
〃She was his mother；〃 he said； as if making excuse。
Hilarius stared in bewilderment。 His mother？ Ay； but an evil liver； and the people of Bungay had wrought a good work in sending her to her own place。 He crossed himself piously at the thought of the near neighbourhood of devils busied with a thrice…damned soul。
Martin led them out of Bungay by the Earsham road； and the Friar clung to him like a little child； for the strength of his vision was spent。 They lay that night with a friendly shepherd； but only one slept； and that one Hilarius。 He lay on a truss of sweet… smelling hay； and dreamt of Wymondham and Brother Andreas； of gold； vermilion and blue； of wondrous pictures； and a great name： and the scent of the pine forest at home swept across his quiet sleep。
On the morrow came the parting of the ways； for Hilarius was all aglow for Wymondham； and Martin had charged himself with the Friar at least as far as Norwich。
〃As well lead a blind friar as sing blindly at another's bidding；〃 he said whimsically； and so they bade one another farewell never to meet again in this world： for Martin and the Friar went to Yarmouth； not Norwich； and there they perished among the first when the east wind swept the Plague thither in a boat…load of sickened shipmen。 And Hilarius … once again the Angel of the Lord stood in the path of his desires。
CHAPTER VII … THE COMING OF HUNGER AND LOVE
HILARIUS fared but slowly； it was ill travelling on a high…road in good weather； but on a cross…road in the spring！ … that was a time to commend oneself body and soul to the Saints。 He walked warily； picking his way in and out of the bog between fence and ditch； which was all that remained to show where the piety of the past once kept a road。 The low land to his left was submerged； a desolate tract giving back a sullen grey sky； lifeless； barren； save where a gaunt poplar like the mast of a sunken ship broke the waste of waters。
The sight brought Hilarius' thoughts sharply back to the events of the evening before。 Wonderful indeed were the judgments of God！ A witch … plainly proved to be such … had been stru