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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
their knees and confessed their sins； accusing themselves with groanings
and tears； but Hilarius； seized with sudden terror； turned and fled blindly；
without thought of direction； his eyes wide； the blood drumming in his
ears； a great horror at his heels … a horror that could drive a man from wife
and child； that had driven brave Martin to flee against the wind； and all
this folk to leave house and home to save that which most men count
dearer than either。
At last； exhausted and panting； he stayed to rest； and saw； coming
towards him； a blind friar。 Hilarius had turned into a by…way in the hurry
of his terror； and they two were alone。 The friar was a small； mean…
looking man； feeling his way by the aid of hand and staff； his face
upturned； craving the light。 He stopped when he came up with Hilarius；
and turned his sightless eyes on him； a fire burnt in the dead ashes。
〃Art thou that son of Christ waiting to guide my steps； as the Lord
promised me？〃
Hilarius started back； afraid at the strange address； but the friar laid
one lean hand on his arm； and； letting the staff slip back against his
shoulder； felt Hilarius' face； not with the light and practised touch of the
blind； but slowly and carefully； frowning the while。
〃Son； thou wilt come with me？〃
〃Nay； good Father； I may not； I am for St Alban's。〃
〃Whence； my son？〃
〃From Westminster； good Father。〃
〃Nay； then； thou mayest spare shoe…leather。 I left the Monastery but
now； and； I warrant thee； they promise small welcome to those from the
pestilent cities。 What would'st thou with the Abbat？〃
Hilarius told him。
The friar flung up his hands。
〃Laus Deo！ Laus Deo！〃 he cried； 〃now I know thou art in very truth
the lad of my dream。 Listen； my son； and I will tell thee all。 Thrice has
the vision come to me； I see the mother who bore me carried away；
struggling and cursing； by men in black apparel； and Hell is near at hand；
belching out smoke and flame； and many hideous devils； yet the place is
little Bungay； where my mother hath a cot by the river。 When first the
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
dream came I lay at Mechlin in the Monastery there； my flesh quaked and
my hair stood up by reason of the awfulness of the vision； then as I mused
and prayed I saw in it the call of the Lord； that I might wrestle with Satan
for my mother's soul； for she was ever inclined to evil arts and spells； and
thought little of aught save gain。
〃Forthwith I suffered no man to stay me； and set off； the Plague at my
heels； but ever out…stripping it； I was careful to preach its coming in every
place； that men might turn and repent。 Then as I tarried on the seaboard
for a ship the Plague came； and because I had preached its coming； the
people rose in wrath； and； falling upon me； roughly handled me。 They
beat me full sore in the market… place； then； piercing my eyeballs； set me
adrift in a small boat。
〃Two days and two nights I lay at the mercy of the sea； darkness and
light alike to me； and with no thought of time； for the flames of hell burnt
in my eyes； and a worse anguish in my heart because of my mother's
soul。〃
〃And then； and then？〃 tried Hilarius breathlessly； tears of pure pity in
his eyes。
〃Then the Lord cared for me even as He cared for the Prophet Jonas；
and sent a ship that His message might not be hindered。 The shipmen
were kindly folk； but we were driven out of our course by a great wind；
and at last came ashore in Lincolnshire。 I have come south thus far by
the aid of Christian men； but time presses； and now； lo！ thou art here to
guide me。〃
〃But； my Father；〃 said poor Hilarius； seeing yet another barrier in the
way of his desires； 〃'tis a limner I would be； and I am from Westminster；
not London； and then there is Prior Stephen's letter … 〃
The friar held up his hand：
〃Thou shalt be a limner； my son； the Lord hath revealed it to me。 Last
night the vision came again； and a voice cried： 'Speed； for a son of Christ
waits by the way to guide thy steps；' and lo！ thou art here； waiting by the
way； as the voice said。 And now； son； an thou wilt come thou shalt take
thy letter to Wymondham … 'tis a cell of this Abbey … for there is Brother
Andreas from overseas who hath wondrous skill with the brush； he will
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
teach thee； for thou shalt say to him that Brother Amadeus sent thee； who
is now as Bartimeus； waiting for the light of the Lord； but first thou shalt
set me in that village of Bungay； where my mother dwelleth。〃
Hilarius listened； gazing awestruck at the withered eyes that vainly
questioned his face。 He had forgotten plague； death； flagellants； in this
absorbing tale of the man of God； who was even as one of the blessed
martyrs。 Brother Andreas！ A skilled limner！ How should he； Hilarius；
gainsay one with a vision from the Lord？〃
〃I obey； my Father；〃 he cried joyously； taking the friar's hand； and they
two passed swiftly down the road； their faces to the east。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER V … THE WHITE WAY AND WHERE
IT LED
IT was a bitterly cold night and St Agnes' Eve； the snow fell heavily；
caught into whirling eddies by the keen north wind。 Hilarius and the Friar；
crossing an empty waste of bleak unprotected heath； met the full force of
the blast； and each moment the snow grew denser； the darkness more
complete。 They struggled on； breathless； beaten； exhausted and lost；
Hilarius； leading the Friar by one hand； held the other across his bent head
to shield himself from the buffets of the wind。
Suddenly he stood fast。
〃I can no more； Father；〃 he said； 〃the snow is as a wall； there is naught
to see or to hear； I deem we are far from our right way。〃 His voice was
very weak； and he caught at the Friar for support。
〃I will pray the Lord； my son； that He open thine eyes； even as He