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night。〃
〃Thou canst eat bread； or else go hungry；〃 she retorted； and filled a
small sack with the victuals。
Hilarius watched her； hardly daring to hope。 She held it out to him：
〃Now up and off to thy little maid。〃
Hilarius took the sack； but only to lay it down again。 Kneeling； he
took both her little brown hands； and his tears fell fast as he kissed them。
〃Maid； maid； canst forgive my theft； ay； and my hard words in the
forest？ God help me for a poor； blind fool！〃
〃Nay；〃 she answered； 〃there is naught to forgive； and see； thou hast
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learnt to hunger and to love！ Farewell； little brother； we pass here again
a fortnight hence； and I would fain have word of thy little maid。 Ay； and
shouldst thou need a home for her； bring her to us； my old grandam is in
the other waggon and she will care for her。〃
Hilarius ran across the fields； full of sorrow for his sin； and yet greatly
glad because of the wonderful goodness of God。
When he got back his little maid sat alone by the fire。 He hastened to
make food ready； but the child was far spent and would scarcely eat。
Then he went out to find the woman。
He saw her standing in the doorway of an empty hovel； and she cried
to him to keep back。
〃My babe is dead； and I feel the sickness on me。 I went to the houses
seeking meal； even to Gammer Harden's； and I must die。 As for thee；
thou shalt not come near me； but bide with the child； so maybe God will
spare the innocent。〃
Hilarius besought her long that she would at least suffer him to bring
her food； but she would not。
〃Nay； I could not eat； the fever burns in my bones； let me alone that I
may die the sooner。〃
Hilarius went back with a heavy heart； and lay that night with the little
maid in his arms on the settle by the hearth。 Despite his fear he slept
heavily and late： when he rose the sun was high and the child awake。
He fed her； and； bidding her bide within； went out to gain tidings of
the poor mother。 He called； but no one answered； and the door of the
hovel in which she had taken shelter stood wide。 Then； as he searched
the fields； fearing the fever had driven her abroad； he saw the flutter of
garments in a ditch； and lo！ there lay the woman； dead； with her dead babe
on her breast。 She had lain down to die alone with God in the silence；
that haply the living might escape； and on her face was peace。
Later； Hilarius laid green boughs tenderly over mother and babe； and
covered them with earth； saying many prayers。 Then he went back to his
fatherless； motherless maid。
She ailed naught that he could see； and there was food and to spare；
but each day saw her paler and thinner； until at last she could not even sit；
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but lay white and silent in Hilarius' tender arms； and he fought with death
for his little maid。
Then on a day she would take no food； and when Hilarius put tiny
morsels in her mouth she could not swallow； and so he sat through the
long hours； his little maid in his arms； with no thought beside。 The
darkness came； and he waited wide…eyed； praying for the dawn。 When
the new day broke and the east was pale with light he carried the child out
that he might see her； for a dreadful fear possessed him。 And it came to
pass that when the light kissed her little white face she opened her eyes
and smiled at Hilarius； and so smiling； died。
The dancer； true to her promise； scanned the road as the waggon drew
near the place of Hilarius' first and last theft： he was standing by the
wayside alone。 The waggon passed on carrying him with it； and the
dancer looked but once on his face and asked no question。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
PART III … THE FRUIT
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER I … HOW LONG； O LORD； HOW
LONG！
THE Monastery by the forest pursued an even existence； with no great
event to trouble its serenity； for it lay too far west for the Plague to be
more than a terrible name。
True； there had been dissension when Prior Stephen； summoned to
Cluny by the Abbat； had perforce left the dominion to the Sub… Prior。 For
lo！ the Sub…Prior； a mild and most amiable man in his own estate； had
proved harsh and overbearing in government。 Ay； and in an irate mood
he had fallen upon Brother William； the Sacrist； in the Frater； plucked out
his hair and beaten him sore； whereat the Convent was no little
scandalized； and counselled Brother William to resign his office。 He
flouted the Chamberlain also； and Brother Roger the Hospitaller； and so
affronted the Brethren that when he began to sing the Verba mea on
leaving the chapter； the Convent … yea； even the novices … were silent； to
show their displeasure。
When Prior Stephen returned he was exceeding wroth； but said little；
only he took from the Sub…Prior his office； and all that appertained thereto；
and made him as one of the other monks； and Brother William； who was a
gentle and devout servant of God； he made Sub…Prior in his stead； and the
Convent was at peace。
Brother Ambrose； he to whom the vision was vouchsafed； had slipped
through the grey veil which once hid Jerusalem from his longing gaze；
Brother Richard was now in the land where the blind receive their sight；
and Brother Thomas the Cellarer … but of him let us say little and think
with charity； for 'tis to be feared that he greatly abused his office and is
come to judgment。
Two of the older monks； Brother Anselm and Brother Paul； who had
spent fifty years in the sheltered peace of the Monastery walls； sat
warming their tired old limbs in the south cloister； for the summer
sunshine was very pleasant to them。