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〃I will pray the Lord； my son； that He open thine eyes； even as He
opened the eyes of the prophet's servant in the besieged city； so shalt thou
see a host of angels encompassing us； for we are about the Lord's
business。〃
〃Nay； my Father；〃 said Hilarius feebly； 〃I see no angels； and I perish。〃
He tottered； and would have fallen； but the Friar caught him in his arms。
A moment he stood irresolute； the boy on his breast； then flung away his
staff and lifted him to his shoulder。
With unerring； confident step he went forward through the snow； a
white figure bearing a white burden in a white world。 All at once the
wind dropped； the blinding shower ceased； and Hilarius； rested and
comforted； spoke：…
〃Is it thou； my Father？〃
〃It is I； my son； but angels are on either hand and go before to guide。
The snow hath ceased； canst thou walk？〃
He set Hilarius gently on his feet； and lo！ he found the stars alight！
The boy gave a cry； and forgetting his companion's darkness； pointed
to the left where lay a snow…clad village。
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〃A miracle； a miracle； my Father！〃
〃A miracle； i' faith； my son： the Lord hath given guidance to the
blind as He promised。 Let us go down。〃
They went by the white way under the stars； and Hilarius was full of
awe and comfort because of the angels of God which attended on a poor
friar。
At the village hostel they found rough but friendly entertainment and
several guests。 They dried themselves at a roaring fire； and Hilarius
made a hearty meal； the Friar would eat nothing save a morsel of bread。
A messenger was there； a short stout man with stubbly beard； bright
black eyes like beads； and a high colour。 He was riding with despatches
from the King to the Abbat at Bury； and had fearful tales to tell of the
Plague； how in London they piled the dead in trenches； while many who
escaped the pest died of want and cold； it was a city of the dead rather than
the living。 One great lord； travelling post…haste from Westminster； had
been found by his servants to have the disorder； and they fled； leaving him
by the wayside to perish。
Hilarius heard horror…struck。
〃'Tis a grievous shame so to desert a sick master；〃 he said。
〃Nay； lad；〃 said a chapman in the corner； 〃but a man loves his own
skin best。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 said a fat ruddy…faced miller； overtaken by the storm on his
way to a neighbouring village； 〃a man's own skin before all。 Fill your
belly first and your neighbour's afterwards。 Live and let live。〃
〃Ay； let live；〃 chimed in mine host； bustling in with a stoop of cider for
the chapman； 〃but； by the Rood； 'tis cruel work when two lone women are
murdered for a bit of mouldy bacon and a lump of bread； for I'se warrant
'tis a long day sin' they had more than that at best。〃
The chapman took his cider。
〃Where was this work done？〃 he said。
〃Nay； where but here on the bruary！ The women were found
Wednesday se'n…night by the herd as he went folding。 They lay on the
floor in their blood。〃
Hilarius turned sick。 In Westminster； by some miracle； he had been
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
spared the sight of violent death … ay； or of death in any form … and had
seen nothing worse than a rogue in the stocks； for which sight he had
thanked Heaven piously。
〃'Tis the fault of the rich；〃 said a voice； and Hilarius saw； to his
surprise； that there was a second friar in the room； a tall； bullet…headed
man； with a heavy； obstinate jaw ornamented with a scanty fringe of black
hair。
〃The rich grow fat； and the poor starve；〃 he went on； 〃'tis hunger
makes a man kill his brother for a mouthful of mouldy bacon。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the miller； 〃there was no need to kill； Father。 A man
could have taken the meat from two lone women and left them their lives。〃
〃Why take from folk as poor as themselves？〃 said mine host。 〃Let
them rob the rich an they must rob。〃
〃Ay；〃 said the friar； 〃rob the rich； say you； take their own； say I。 God
did not make this world that one man should be over full and another go
empty； nor is it religion that the monks' should live on the fat o' the land
and grind the faces of the poor。 How many manors； think you； has the
Abbat of St Edmund's； and how many on his land lack bread？〃
Hilarius listened； scarlet with indignation； a flood of wrathful defence
pent at his lips； for the blind friar laid a restraining hand on his sleeve。
Mine host scratched his head doubtfully。 The teaching was seditious；
and made a man liable to stocks and pillory； but it tickled the ears of the
common folk and 'twas ill to quarrel with the Mendicants。 Help came to
him in his perplexity： a loud knocking on the barred door made the
guests within start。
〃'Tis eight o' the clock；〃 said the miller； affrighted； for he had a heavy
purse on him。
〃Let them knock and cool their hot heads；〃 said the seditious friar
composedly。
The rest nodded approval。
Then a man's voice threatened without。
〃What ho！ unbar the door。 Is this a night to keep a man without？
Open； open； or； by the Mass； thou shalt smart for it。〃
Mine host shook his head fearfully； and his fat cheeks trembled； he
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moved slowly and unwillingly to the door and took down the stout
wooden bar。 As it swung back the door flew open； and a man burst in； at
sight of whom mine host turned yet paler。
〃Food and drink；〃 said the new…comer sharply； flinging himself on a
bench by the fire。
Hilarius thought he had never seen so strange a fellow。 His hair was
close cropped； ay； and his ears also。 His eyes were very small and near
together； his nose a shapeless lump； his lip drawn up showed two rat…like
teeth。 Silence fell on the company； and the chapman who had been
searching amo