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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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
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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。
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